professionalism
pruh-FEH-shuh-nuh-lih-zuhm
Professionalism (noun) means the skill, conduct, and standards expected of someone in a profession — reliability, fairness, and good judgment. Example: “The nurse handled the emergency with real professionalism, staying calm the whole time.”
noun
1
The skill, conduct, and standards expected of someone in a profession — reliability, fairness, and good judgment.
"The nurse handled the emergency with real professionalism, staying calm the whole time."
"Clients notice professionalism in small things, like replying to emails on time."
2
The use of paid, trained practitioners rather than amateurs, especially in sport.
"The league's move toward professionalism changed how players trained and got paid."
How to use professionalism
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishActing like a true professional — competent, reliable, and appropriate for the job.
Common pairings
a high level of professionalism
lack of professionalism
act with professionalism
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Word forms
- Plural
- professionalisms
Fill the gap
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The nurse handled the emergency with real _____, staying calm the whole time.
Etymology
Built from "professional" plus the suffix "-ism," which turns a quality into an abstract noun.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for professionalism
realism
fatalism
idealism
globalism
socialism
vandalism
federalism
radicalism
capitalism
liberalism
surrealism
journalism
See all rhymes for professionalism →
Frequently asked questions
What does “professionalism” mean?
The word “professionalism” means the skill, conduct, and standards expected of someone in a profession — reliability, fairness, and good judgment. In plain terms, acting like a true professional — competent, reliable, and appropriate for the job.
How do you pronounce “professionalism”?
“Professionalism” is pronounced pruh-FEH-shuh-nuh-lih-zuhm (/pɹəˈfɛʃənəˌlɪzəm/ in IPA).
How do you use “professionalism” in a sentence?
Here is “professionalism” used in a sentence: “The nurse handled the emergency with real professionalism, staying calm the whole time.”
What is another word for “professionalism”?
Words with a similar meaning to “professionalism” include professionality, professionalness and professionalship.
What part of speech is “professionalism”?
“Professionalism” is a noun.
Is “professionalism” a common word?
“Professionalism” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “professionalism” have?
“Professionalism” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the skill, conduct, and standards expected of someone in a profession — reliability, fairness, and good judgment.
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