professional

UK: prəˈfeʃənəl | US: prəˈfeʃənəl

Definition
  1. adj. relating to or characteristic of a profession or engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation

  2. n. a person engaged or qualified in a profession

  3. n. a person competent or skilled in a particular activity

Structure
pro <forward, forth>fess <declare, acknowledge>ion <noun suffix>al <adjective suffix>
Etymology

The word "professional" originates from the Latin "professio," meaning "public declaration." The root "pro-" (forward) combined with "fess" (from "fateri," to acknowledge) originally referred to vows taken when entering a religious order. Over time, it evolved to signify expertise in a field, reflecting the idea of publicly declaring one's commitment to a skilled occupation. The suffixes "-ion" and "-al" solidify its grammatical role as a noun or adjective.

Examples
  1. She maintains a professional attitude even under pressure.

  2. He is a licensed medical professional.

  3. The team delivered a highly professional presentation.

  4. Professional athletes train rigorously to maintain peak performance.

  5. Her professional achievements earned her widespread recognition.