English Explanatory Dictionary

amateur

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A lover of something.
  2. A person attached to a particular pursuit, study, science, or art (such as music or painting), especially one who cultivates any study, interest, taste, or attachment without engaging in it professionally.
  3. Someone who is unqualified or insufficiently skillful.
adj
  1. Non-professional.
  2. Created, done, or populated by amateurs or non-professionals.
  3. Showing a lack of professionalism, experience or talent.

Pronunciation

/ˈæ.mə.tə/ /ˈæ.mə.t͡ʃɚ/ /ˈæ.mə.t͡ʃʊɚ/ /ˈæ.mə.tɚ/ en-us-amateur1.ogg en-us-amateur2.ogg

Word forms

amateur amateurs more amateur most amateur

Etymology

Borrowed from French amateur, from Latin amātor (“lover”), from amāre (“to love”).

Synonyms

hobbyist dabbler dilettante punk

Related words

amateuse amatrice layperson nonexpert nonspecialist newbie

Derived words

amateurish amateurism amateurization amateurize amateurship Ammie radio amateur shamateur amateur press association amateur radio amateurly amateur hour amateur night

Translations

Armenian: սիրողական Chinese Mandarin: 業餘 /业余 Finnish: amatööri- Finnish: harrastaja- Māori: runaruna Polish: amatorski Portuguese: amador Thai: สมัครเล่น
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