Amateur
a person who engages in a study, sport, or other activity for pleasure rather than for financial benefit or professional reasons.
Compare .
an athlete who has never competed for payment or for a monetary prize.
a person inexperienced or unskilled in a particular activity:
Hunting lions is not for amateurs.
a person who admires something; devotee; fan:
an amateur of the cinema.
characteristic of or engaged in by an amateur; nonprofessional:
an amateur painter; amateur tennis.
Contemporary Examples
Even for those who are not amateur engineers, access to drones is so easy that I have one myself: I bought it online for $300.
Buy Your Own Drone! Now Only $300 Online Clive Stafford-Smith April 27, 2012
Pritzker makes Treasury Secretary Jack Lew look like an amateur.
Never Mind the Middle—Barack Obama Pays Off His Rich Backers Lloyd Green May 10, 2013
Some adult performers in the business tend to think there will be a shift in amateur POV series.
Adult Entertainment Companies Put Google Glass Technology in Their Sights Aurora Snow June 2, 2013
According to the FAA, amateur drone operators are advised to fly their craft below 400 feet.
Soon We’ll Be Watching Whales By Drone Abigail Golden August 24, 2014
Not unlike the Oscars, the Razzies ceremony is a rickety mix of sharp wit, amateur dramatics, and musical pastiche.
The Worst Awards in Hollywood Sean Macaulay March 6, 2010
Historical Examples
It must always remain a variety for the amateur and for special localities.
The Grapes of New York U. P. Hedrick
One of them had the appearance of an amateur, the other was an artist, an engraver.
Tales And Novels, Volume 9 (of 10) Maria Edgeworth
I never did believe in that engine in the hands of an amateur.
Dorothy on a House Boat Evelyn Raymond
And he: That may well be, seeing I am an amateur and not in training.
The Memorabilia Xenophon
The truth is, that we much under-rated the American amateur at that time.
Fifty Years of Golf Horace G. Hutchinson
noun
a person who engages in an activity, esp a sport, as a pastime rather than professionally or for gain
an athlete or sportsman
a person unskilled in or having only a superficial knowledge of a subject or activity
a person who is fond of or admires something
(modifier) consisting of or for amateurs: an amateur event
adjective
amateurish; not professional or expert: an amateur approach
n.
1784, “one who has a taste for (something),” from French amateur “lover of,” from Latin amatorem (nominative amator) “lover,” agent noun from amatus, past participle of amare “to love” (see Amy). Meaning “dabbler” (as opposed to professional) is from 1786. As an adjective, by 1838.
Read Also:
- Amateur dramatics
noun exaggerated or theatrical behavior; histrionics Examples We have all seen the amateur dramatics of children when they do not get what they want. Contemporary Examples Not unlike the Oscars, the Razzies ceremony is a rickety mix of sharp wit, amateur dramatics, and musical pastiche. The Worst Awards in Hollywood Sean Macaulay March 6, 2010 […]
- Amateur hour
an entertainment featuring amateur performers, often in competition for prizes. Informal. an example of or situation marked by flagrant ineptitude: Critics say it’s been amateur night at the embassy since the new ambassador took over. noun phrase Any occasion on which professionals do a bad or mediocre job: After the third inning it was strictly […]
- Amateur night
an entertainment featuring amateur performers, often in competition for prizes. Informal. an example of or situation marked by flagrant ineptitude: Critics say it’s been amateur night at the embassy since the new ambassador took over. noun phrase Any occasion on which professionals do a bad or mediocre job: After the third inning it was strictly […]
- Amateur packet radio
amateur packet radio communications (PR) The use of packet radio by amateurs to communicate between computers. PR is a complete amateur radio computer network with “digipeaters” (relays), mailboxes (BBS) and other special nodes. In Germany, it is on HF, say, 2m (300 and 1200 BPS), 70cm (1200 to 9600 BPS), 23cm (normally 9600 BPS and […]
- Amateurish
characteristic of an , especially in having the faults or deficiencies of an ; inept: Though an enthusiastic violinist, he gave an amateurish performance. Contemporary Examples In the end, Haro was brought to justice when her brother implicated her in the amateurish plot. Did Joe Pesci’s Ex Hire a Hitman? Christine Pelisek April 10, 2012 […]