amateur
Other forms: amateurs
An amateur is a person who does something for enjoyment, not money, like an amateur who paints as a hobby but earns a living another way.
The adjective amateur often describes a pastime, like an amateur sports league that people join to get exercise and socialize together. Or it can have a negative meaning and describe something that's poorly done. If your guests leave your dinner table and stop for fast food on the way home, you may be ashamed of your amateur cooking skills. Amateur originated as a French word, meaning "lover of," not "expert."
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someone who pursues a study or sport as a pastime
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types:
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bird watcher, birder
a person who identifies and studies birds in their natural habitats
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dabbler, dilettante, sciolist
an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge
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hobbyist
a person who pursues an activity in their spare time for pleasure
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bird watcher, birder
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an athlete who does not play for pay
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Antonyms:
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pro, professional
an athlete who plays for pay
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types:
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outdoor man, sporting man
someone who enjoys outdoor activities
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pro, professional
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engaged in as a pastime“an amateur painter”“gained valuable experience in amateur theatricals”
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synonyms:
recreational, unpaid
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nonprofessional
not professional; not engaged in a profession or engaging in as a profession or for gain
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nonprofessional
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lacking professional skill or expertise
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synonyms:
amateurish, inexpert, unskilled
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unprofessional
not characteristic of or befitting a profession or one engaged in a profession
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unprofessional
/ˈæmətʃər/
/ˈæmətʃə/
Vocabulary lists containing amateur
Twelve-year-old Liberty finds solace in a new friendship after her parents split up.
This list covers "Jim Crow Laws."
Eleven-year-old Ware spends his summer building a private refuge in an empty lot — but when the lot is put up for auction, he must decide if he is brave enough to protect it.
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