Amateur
/ˈæmətər,ˈæmətʃər/noun
A person who does something for enjoyment, not as a job.
She plays basketball at an amateur level, not professionally.
Often appears as...
- amateur boxer
- amateur athlete
noun
A person who is not skilled in a particular activity.
I tried to fix the plumbing myself, but I'm an amateur.
Often appears as...
- complete amateur
- utter amateur
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Done for the joy of it, not for money or as a profession.
She is involved in amateur theater.
Often appears as...
- amateur status
- amateur competition
adjective
Not skilled or not done well.
The painting was done in an amateur style.
Often appears as...
- amateur mistake
- amateur work
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
A person who does something for enjoyment, not as a job.
She plays basketball at an amateur level, not professionally.
Often appears as...
- amateur boxer
- amateur athlete
noun
A person who is not skilled in a particular activity.
I tried to fix the plumbing myself, but I'm an amateur.
Often appears as...
- complete amateur
- utter amateur
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Done for the joy of it, not for money or as a profession.
She is involved in amateur theater.
Often appears as...
- amateur status
- amateur competition
adjective
Not skilled or not done well.
The painting was done in an amateur style.
Often appears as...
- amateur mistake
- amateur work
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/2Enjoyment Focus
Used when emphasis is on the pleasure received from the activity, rather than skill or income.
He's an amateur gardener, growing roses for the pure joy of it.
Pro Tip 2/2No Income Implication
Implies that the person does not receive payment for their activities.
Despite her talent, she remains an amateur and doesn't sell her paintings.
Compare with
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Video examples
How to detect a...
Aided by some distance and direction information from the neutrino detectors, the amateur astronomers and scientists alike will scan the skies and share information to quickly identify the new galactic supernova and turn the world's major telescopes in that direction.
Video examples
What does it take to...
has an answer films and television shows are being analyzed by legions of fans the world over now and in real time every single detail of a production is analyzing depths by amateurs and experts alike and the results are shared instantaneously let me show you just a
Video examples
An Island On the Brink...
didn't really know what I wanted to do with my life and borrow kind of heard that I was a tree planter came and we spent several long evenings just discussing you know what tree planting could look like you're in Pemba it was all fairly amateur we didn't have a lot
Video examples
How social media can...
landscape that we knew as familiar as it was as easy conceptually it was as it was to deal with the idea that professionals broadcast messages to amateurs right is increasingly slipping away in a world where media's global social ubiquitous and cheap in a world
Video examples
How does the Rorschach...
and more about our general approach to perception. As an amateur artist Hermann was fascinated by how visual perception varies from person to person. He carried this interest to medical school, where he learned all our senses are deeply connected.
Video examples
Making peace is a...
the disabled, the mentally challenged, the blind, the elite, the amateur runners, even moms with their babies. Themes have included runs for the environment, breast cancer, for the love of Lebanon, for peace, or just simply to run.
Video examples
Isaac Lidsky: What...
I learned that what we see is not universal truth. It is not objective reality. What we see is a unique, personal, virtual reality that is masterfully constructed by our brain. Let me explain with a bit of amateur neuroscience.
Video examples
Defend our freedom to...
They want to raise the cost of copyright compliance to the point where people simply get out of the business of offering it as a capability to amateurs. Now the way they propose to do this is to identify sites
Video examples
Eric Liu: Why ordinary...
message people, research people. The rest of us are meant to feel like amateurs in the sense of suckers. We become demotivated to learn more about how things work. We begin to opt out.
Video examples
Kary Mullis: Celebrating...
where there's a missile base. They send it out for amateur rocketeers, it said in there do not ever heat a mixture of potassium perchlorate and sugar. You know,
Video examples
How to detect a...
Aided by some distance and direction information from the neutrino detectors, the amateur astronomers and scientists alike will scan the skies and share information to quickly identify the new galactic supernova and turn the world's major telescopes in that direction.
Video examples
What does it take to...
has an answer films and television shows are being analyzed by legions of fans the world over now and in real time every single detail of a production is analyzing depths by amateurs and experts alike and the results are shared instantaneously let me show you just a
Video examples
An Island On the Brink...
didn't really know what I wanted to do with my life and borrow kind of heard that I was a tree planter came and we spent several long evenings just discussing you know what tree planting could look like you're in Pemba it was all fairly amateur we didn't have a lot
Video examples
How social media can...
landscape that we knew as familiar as it was as easy conceptually it was as it was to deal with the idea that professionals broadcast messages to amateurs right is increasingly slipping away in a world where media's global social ubiquitous and cheap in a world
Video examples
How does the Rorschach...
and more about our general approach to perception. As an amateur artist Hermann was fascinated by how visual perception varies from person to person. He carried this interest to medical school, where he learned all our senses are deeply connected.
Video examples
Making peace is a...
the disabled, the mentally challenged, the blind, the elite, the amateur runners, even moms with their babies. Themes have included runs for the environment, breast cancer, for the love of Lebanon, for peace, or just simply to run.
Video examples
Isaac Lidsky: What...
I learned that what we see is not universal truth. It is not objective reality. What we see is a unique, personal, virtual reality that is masterfully constructed by our brain. Let me explain with a bit of amateur neuroscience.
Video examples
Defend our freedom to...
They want to raise the cost of copyright compliance to the point where people simply get out of the business of offering it as a capability to amateurs. Now the way they propose to do this is to identify sites
Video examples
Eric Liu: Why ordinary...
message people, research people. The rest of us are meant to feel like amateurs in the sense of suckers. We become demotivated to learn more about how things work. We begin to opt out.
Video examples
Kary Mullis: Celebrating...
where there's a missile base. They send it out for amateur rocketeers, it said in there do not ever heat a mixture of potassium perchlorate and sugar. You know,
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Jon Katz
American Journalist
Some rescue groups are highly organized, experienced, well-funded, nearly professional. Others are small amateur operations run out of garages and back yards. Their members may identify strongly with animals as victims, sometimes because of traumas and disappointments in their own lives. Others simply love animals and want to help them.
Quote examples
Wangechi Mutu
Kenyan Artist
I have this amateur side attraction to, and interest in, the sciences and biology and physics and evolution. Paleontology is of interest to me. I'm interested in the way these fields have helped us understand how we are human and why we are human.
Quote examples
Harold Prince
American Producer
Artistic self-indulgence is the mark of an amateur. The temptation to make scenes, to appear late, to call in sick, not to meet deadlines, not to be organized, is at heart a sign of your own insecurity and at worst the sign of an amateur.
Quote examples
Jaap Stam
Dutch Businessman
For me, a late start was a good thing. A lot of kids who start too early get bored. I'd done all the things I wanted to do, I'd enjoyed myself, having fun and playing as an amateur and that was important.
Quote examples
Jeb Bush
American Politician
It's a complex relationship when your dad happened to be president and you are president and then you have all the amateur psychology that goes on when people try to speculate about motivations.
Quote examples
Joe Calzaghe
Welsh Athlete
I remember every defeat I suffered as an amateur. They were rare enough to be burned into my brain, and that's why I can't bear the thought of losing.
Quote examples
Gegard Mousasi
Dutch Mixed Martial Artist
Derek Brunson's stand up is horrible, I'm sorry. The guy is a good fighter but his stand up is just terrible. He's an amateur fighter stand up wise.
Quote examples
Guan Tianlang
Chinese Athlete
The AAC is the best amateur event in the region and the most important tournament to me every year.
Quote examples
Wanderlei Silva
Brazilian Mixed Martial Artist
XYIENCE is a great brand, and they've also worked to help inspire my team of amateur fighters.
Quote examples
Fred Willard
American Comedian
There's this whole underground world of amateur television production.
Quote examples
Jon Katz
American Journalist
Some rescue groups are highly organized, experienced, well-funded, nearly professional. Others are small amateur operations run out of garages and back yards. Their members may identify strongly with animals as victims, sometimes because of traumas and disappointments in their own lives. Others simply love animals and want to help them.
Quote examples
Wangechi Mutu
Kenyan Artist
I have this amateur side attraction to, and interest in, the sciences and biology and physics and evolution. Paleontology is of interest to me. I'm interested in the way these fields have helped us understand how we are human and why we are human.
Quote examples
Harold Prince
American Producer
Artistic self-indulgence is the mark of an amateur. The temptation to make scenes, to appear late, to call in sick, not to meet deadlines, not to be organized, is at heart a sign of your own insecurity and at worst the sign of an amateur.
Quote examples
Jaap Stam
Dutch Businessman
For me, a late start was a good thing. A lot of kids who start too early get bored. I'd done all the things I wanted to do, I'd enjoyed myself, having fun and playing as an amateur and that was important.
Quote examples
Jeb Bush
American Politician
It's a complex relationship when your dad happened to be president and you are president and then you have all the amateur psychology that goes on when people try to speculate about motivations.
Quote examples
Joe Calzaghe
Welsh Athlete
I remember every defeat I suffered as an amateur. They were rare enough to be burned into my brain, and that's why I can't bear the thought of losing.
Quote examples
Gegard Mousasi
Dutch Mixed Martial Artist
Derek Brunson's stand up is horrible, I'm sorry. The guy is a good fighter but his stand up is just terrible. He's an amateur fighter stand up wise.
Quote examples
Guan Tianlang
Chinese Athlete
The AAC is the best amateur event in the region and the most important tournament to me every year.
Quote examples
Wanderlei Silva
Brazilian Mixed Martial Artist
XYIENCE is a great brand, and they've also worked to help inspire my team of amateur fighters.
Quote examples
Fred Willard
American Comedian
There's this whole underground world of amateur television production.
Example 1 of 10
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