Amateur — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ˈa-mə-chər/ am·a·teur

Meaning & Definition of Amateur

Amateur (noun)

  1. one who engages in a pursuit, study, science, or sport as a pastime rather than as a profession
  2. one lacking in experience and competence in an art or science
  3. devotee, admirer

Amateur (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being such only for recreation

    "an amateur cabinetmaker, he derives immense satisfaction from finely crafting his own furniture"

    similar: avocational, backyard, jackleg, nonprofessional, Sunday
    related: naive, primitive, self-taught, amateurish, dilettante, inexperienced, inexpert, unprofessional, unskilled, uninitiated, unprepared, unqualified, unschooled, untaught, untrained, untutored, part-time, weekend

  2. lacking or showing a lack of expert skill

    "in every room there were amateur watercolors, apparently the work of the innkeeper's wife"

    similar: amateurish, dilettante, dilettantish, inexperienced, inexpert, jackleg, nonprofessional, unprofessional, unskilled, unskillful
    related: curbstone, self-taught, uninitiated, unprepared, unqualified, unschooled, untaught, untrained, untutored, awkward, clumsy, ham-fisted, ham-handed, heavy-handed, crude, defective, faulty, flawed, primitive, unfinished, unpolished, beginning, entry-level, fresh, green, new, raw, unseasoned, untested, untried, would-be, incapable, incompetent, talentless, unable, unfit, ungifted, untalented
    opposite: ace, adept, consummate, crackerjack, expert, master, masterful, masterly, professional, virtuosic, virtuoso
    near: able, accomplished, capable, competent, dexterous, gifted, habile, handsome, proficient, skilled, skillful, talented, experienced, practiced, seasoned, veteran, educated, fitted, initiated, knowledgeable, prepared, qualified, schooled, taught, trained, tutored, versed, all-around, ambidextrous, versatile, well-rounded, finished, polished, slick

Amateur (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person who regularly or occasionally engages in an activity as a pastime rather than as a profession

    "an amateur photographer who has won a number of photo contests"

    similar: dabbler, dilettante, hobbyist, layman, nonexpert, nonprofessional, potterer, putterer, tinkerer
    related: all-rounder (British), generalist, general practitioner, jack-of-all-trades, aficionado, buff, devotee, enthusiast, fan
    opposite: authority, expert, pro, professional, specialist

  2. a person who lacks experience and competence in an art or science

    "a homemade doghouse that looked like it was built by an amateur who hadn't mastered basic carpentry"

    similar: hack, hacker, inexpert, jackleg, trifler
    related: beginner, freshman, greenhorn, kid, learner, neophyte, newcomer, novice, rookie, tenderfoot, tyro
    opposite: ace, adept, crackerjack, craftsman, expert, hand, master, past master, shark, sharp
    near: maestro, virtuoso, whiz, wizard, old hand, old-timer, vet, veteran

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Amateur

The most common words with a similar meaning to Amateur:

avocational, backyard, jackleg, nonprofessional, Sunday, amateurish, dilettante, dilettantish, inexperienced, inexpert, unprofessional, unskilled, unskillful, dabbler, hobbyist, layman, nonexpert, potterer, putterer, tinkerer, hack, hacker, trifler

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Amateur

Words with the opposite meaning of Amateur:

ace, adept, consummate, crackerjack, expert, master, masterful, masterly, professional, virtuosic, virtuoso, authority, pro, specialist, craftsman, hand, past master, shark, sharp

Related Words for Amateur

naive, primitive, self-taught, uninitiated, unprepared, unqualified, unschooled, untaught, untrained, untutored, part-time, weekend, curbstone, awkward, clumsy, ham-fisted, ham-handed, heavy-handed, crude, defective, faulty, flawed, unfinished, unpolished, beginning, entry-level, fresh, green, new, raw

Near Antonyms of Amateur

able, accomplished, capable, competent, dexterous, gifted, habile, handsome, proficient, skilled, skillful, talented, experienced, practiced, seasoned, veteran, educated, fitted, initiated, knowledgeable, prepared, qualified, schooled, taught, trained, tutored, versed, all-around, ambidextrous, versatile

Word Forms of Amateur

Derived words: amateur (adjective), amateurish (adjective), amateurishly (adverb), amateurishness (noun), amateurism (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Amateur

borrowed from French, going back to Middle French, "one who loves, lover," borrowed from Latin amātor "lover, enthusiastic admirer, devotee," from amāre "to have affection for, love, be in love, make love to" (of uncertain origin) + -tōr-, -tor, agent suffix

First known use: 1757

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Amateur

Words & Phrases Containing Amateur

amateur dramatic, amateur dramatics

Frequently Asked Questions about Amateur

What does "Amateur" mean?

"Amateur" means one who engages in a pursuit, study, science, or sport as a pastime rather than as a profession. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: one who engages in a pursuit, study, science, or sport as a pastime rather than as a profession. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Amateur"?

Other words for "Amateur" include avocational, backyard, jackleg, nonprofessional, Sunday, amateurish, dilettante and dilettantish. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Amateur" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Amateur"?

There are 84 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Amateur". Common alternatives include avocational, backyard, jackleg, nonprofessional, Sunday, amateurish, dilettante, dilettantish, inexperienced and inexpert.

What is the opposite of "Amateur"?

Antonyms of "Amateur" include ace, adept, consummate, crackerjack, expert, master, masterful and masterly. Near antonyms include able, accomplished, capable and competent.

How do you use "Amateur" in a sentence?

Examples of "Amateur" in a sentence: "an amateur cabinetmaker, he derives immense satisfaction from finely crafting his own furniture"; "in every room there were amateur watercolors, apparently the work of the innkeeper's wife"; "an amateur photographer who has won a number of photo contests".

Is "Amateur" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Amateur" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Amateur" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Amateur" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Amateur"?

"Amateur" is pronounced /ˈa-mə-chər/ and divided into syllables as am·a·teur.