amateur
A person attached to a particular pursuit, study, science, or art (such as music or painting), especially one who cultivates any study, interest, taste, or attachment without engaging in it professionally.
Example
“The contest is only open to amateurs.”
Other meanings
Someone who is unqualified or insufficiently skillful.
“The entire thing was built by some amateurs with screwdrivers and plywood.”
A lover of something.
Related words
- amateurization
- amateurize
- amateurship
- Ammie
- amateurish
- amateurism
- radio amateur
- shamateur
Word history
From Latin "amātor" (lover).
Where this comes from
This definition is adapted from “amateur” on Wiktionary, by its contributors, published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.