Pro Meaning: Professional Athlete Definition & Examples

Meaning 1：Professional athlete (pro)

pro 🔊

/proʊ/

A person who earns money by playing a sport as their main job, instead of just for fun.

Professional athlete 🔊

➕

/prəˈfɛʃənl ˈæθliːt/

A person who earns money by playing a sport as their main job, instead of just for fun.

📁 Category：Entertainment & Sports 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 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

pros (n.) – Plural form; professional athletes

pro-level (adj.) – Of or relating to the standard of a professional

prodom (n.) – The state or condition of being a professional (rare)

📖 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.