professionalism
pruh-FESH-uh-nuh-liz-um
/prəˈfɛʃənəlɪzəm/
The competence or skill expected of a professional; also, the practicing of an activity by professional rather than amateur players.
Can refer to both the 'status' of being paid and the 'conduct' of being disciplined and skilled.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'professio', which originally meant a public declaration or taking an oath (like a monk). It evolved to mean the occupation one 'declares' themselves to be an expert in.
Word relationships
- expertise: Focuses purely on high-level skill.
- competence: Focuses on being 'good enough' to do the job.
- amateurism: The state of being unpaid or doing something as a hobby.
Commonly confused with
- professions: Professions are the jobs themselves; professionalism is the quality of the work.
Word family
- professional (noun/adjective): A person engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation.
- professionally (adverb): In a way that is expert or paid.
Collocations
- utmost professionalism
- standards of professionalism
- creeping professionalism
Example sentences
- "Professionalism is a state of mind, not just a paycheck." A quote on the mindset of an athlete.
- "The rise of professionalism in rugby changed the way players trained and recovered." Discussing the rise of paid sports.
Memory hook
A PROFESSional has to PROFESS (declare) their skills. Declare your standards.
When not to use
Don't use it to mean 'being a snob'; it's about standards and status.
Fun facts
- The term was first used in sports in the mid-19th century to distinguish those who took money from 'gentlemen' players.
Related words
Explore more words
profession, proficiency, proficient, competence, competency, malpractice
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