Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “professional” come from?

Professional derives from English profession, which comes from Latin professionem, originally meaning a public declaration or avowal.

professional (English): A person who belongs to a profession; A person...

Definitions

  1. A person who belongs to a profession; A person...

Ancestry of “professional”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishprofessionA declaration of belief, faith or one's opinion,...
2Anglo-Normanprofessioun—
3Old Frenchprofessionprofession; declaration
4Latinprofessiō—
5Latin-tiō—
6Latindissertātiō—
7Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
8Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
9Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
10Latincalceusshoe
11Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
12Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “professional”

  • professionally
  • professionalism
  • professionalization
  • unprofessional
  • nonprofessional
  • professionalisation
  • paraprofessional
  • interprofessional
  • professionalize
  • semiprofessional
  • preprofessional
  • unprofessionally
  • multiprofessional
  • deprofessionalization
  • unprofessionalism
  • professionality
  • professionalist
  • antiprofessional
  • extraprofessional
  • deprofessionalize
  • semiprofessionally
  • uniprofessional
  • subprofessional
  • ultraprofessional
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →