professionally

The word “professionally” means as part of a paid career, rather than as a hobby. In plain terms, either "for a living" or "in a competent, businesslike way," depending on context.

Here is “professionally” used in a sentence: “She has played the violin professionally since she was nineteen.”

The opposite of “professionally” — its antonyms — is unprofessionally.

“Professionally” is an adverb.

“Professionally” is an uncommon word in modern English.

“Professionally” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: as part of a paid career, rather than as a hobby.

Doing something professionally means it is part of a paid career, done for income and typically to a recognised standard. Doing something as a hobby means it is pursued for enjoyment rather than payment, with no obligation to meet professional standards.

Behaving professionally means acting in a manner that meets professional standards of conduct, such as being reliable, respectful, and competent. This sense applies even to unpaid or informal settings, since it describes conduct rather than employment status.

Yes, the two senses of professionally are separate: one refers to earning money from an activity, the other to the standard of conduct shown while doing it. A volunteer, for example, can still behave professionally even though they are not paid.