a person who engages in a study, sport, or other activity for pleasure rather than for financial benefit or professional reasons. Compare professional .

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.

noun

professional

noun

abecedarian , apprentice , aspirant , beginner , bush leaguer , dabbler , dilettante , greenhorn , ham * , hopeful , layperson , learner , neophyte , nonprofessional , novice , probationer , putterer , recruit , sunday driver , tenderfoot * , tyronotes:an amateur is someone who pursues a study or sport as a pastime; a novice is someone who is new to a field or activity , smatterer , uninitiate , admirer , catechumen , devotee , disciple , ham , initiate , layman , novitiate , proselyte , pupil , trainee , tyro , votary