Reading Theme:
Pro Meaning: Professional Athlete Definition & Examples
Meaning 1:Professional athlete (pro)
pro
/proʊ/
n.
A person who earns money by playing a sport as their main job, instead of just for fun.
Professional athlete
➕
/prəˈfɛʃənl ˈæθliːt/
n.
A person who earns money by playing a sport as their main job, instead of just for fun.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
Shortened form of 'professional', from Latin 'professio' meaning 'public declaration'.
💡 Mnemonic
Think: a 'pro' is a 'pro-fessional' who gets paid to play.
📖 Example
After winning the national championship, the young badminton player decided to turn pro and compete in international tournaments.
After winning the national championship, the young badminton player decided to turn pro and compete in international tournaments.
🔗 Collocations
turn pro – To become a professional athlete
pro athlete – A paid professional sports player
pro league – A league consisting of professional teams
🔄 Synonyms
professional (n.) – A person engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation
athlete (n.) – A person who is proficient in sports and other forms of physical exercise
sportsperson (n.) – A person who takes part in a sport, especially as a professional
🚫 Antonyms
amateur (n.) – A person who engages in a pursuit on an unpaid basis
novice (n.) – A person new to or inexperienced in a field or situation
recreational player (n.) – Someone who plays a sport purely for enjoyment, not for money
🌱 Derivatives
📖 Cultural Story
The term 'pro' emerged in the late 19th century as an abbreviation in sports contexts, distinguishing paid athletes from amateurs. It later expanded to any skilled expert in a field.
Wordbook
Your data is saved in this browser