adj

amateurish

A-muh-chuu-ihsh

Amateurish (adj) means lacking skill or polish; looking like the work of a beginner rather than a professional. Example: “The website design looked amateurish, with mismatched fonts and broken links.”

adj

Lacking skill or polish; looking like the work of a beginner rather than a professional.

"The website design looked amateurish, with mismatched fonts and broken links."

"Critics called the special effects amateurish compared to the rest of the film."

How to Use Amateurish

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishUnprofessional-looking or clumsily done — always a criticism.

Common mistake

Unlike "amateur" (which can be neutral), "amateurish" is always negative — it specifically means low-quality, not just unpaid.

Easily confused with

amateur →

Word Forms

more amateurish comparative, most amateurish superlative

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Test yourself on “amateurish” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The website design looked _____, with mismatched fonts and broken links.

Etymology

From amateur plus the suffix -ish, which here means "resembling" or "having the qualities of".

Rhymes for amateurish

nourish flourish

See all rhymes for amateurish →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “amateurish” mean?

The word “amateurish” means lacking skill or polish; looking like the work of a beginner rather than a professional. In plain terms, unprofessional-looking or clumsily done — always a criticism.

How do you pronounce “amateurish”?

“Amateurish” is pronounced A-muh-chuu-ihsh (/ˈæ.mə.t͡ʃʊɚ.ɪʃ/ in IPA).

How do you use “amateurish” in a sentence?

Here is “amateurish” used in a sentence: “The website design looked amateurish, with mismatched fonts and broken links.”

What part of speech is “amateurish”?

“Amateurish” is an adjective.