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Added 9 October 2026

amateur

/ˈæ.mə.tə/ noun

Categories: PeopleUncommon Words

Latin root: amātor Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about amateur at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. Someone who pursues a study or sport as a pastime.
  2. An athlete who does not play for pay.

adjective

  1. Engaged in as a pastime.
    an amateur painter
  2. Lacking professional skill or expertise.
    a very amateurish job

Origin

Borrowed from French amateur, from Latin amātor (“lover”), from amāre (“to love”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Related Words: nonprofessionalinexpertunskilledunprofessionalrecreationalunpaidloverfondenthusiastkeenhobbydilettante

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