amateurism
AM-uh-cher-iz-um
/ˈæmətərɪzəm/
The practicing of an activity, especially a sport, on an unpaid rather than a professional basis.
Refers to the 'philosophy' or 'system' of remaining unpaid.
The story behind the word. An extension of 'amateur', this term gained prominence in the 19th century as sports became organized and the debate over payment began.
Word relationships
- nonprofessionalism: A literal but less common term for the same concept.
- professionalism: The system of being paid for sports.
Commonly confused with
- hobby: A hobby is something you do for fun; amateurism is a formal status in a competitive structure.
Word family
- amateur (noun): The person who is unpaid.
Collocations
- code of amateurism
- spirit of amateurism
- pure amateurism
Example sentences
- "The strict code of amateurism in college sports is slowly being dismantled by new laws." Historical debate.
- "Avery Brundage was a fierce defender of amateurism, believing money would ruin the spirit of the Olympics." Olympic history.
Memory hook
AMATEURISM is the ISM (belief) of doing it for love. The unpaid philosophy.
When not to use
Don't use to describe a single person; use 'amateur' for the person and 'amateurism' for the concept.
Fun facts
- In the early 1900s, an athlete could lose their amateur status just for having a job as a physical education teacher.
Related words
Explore more words
volunteerism, Volunteer, extracurricular, recreational, Pro bono, profession
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