Synonyms for amateur
- noun
- adjective
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Dilettante — someone who is unqualified or insufficiently skillful
dilettante, dabbler, virtuoso, critic, weekend warrior, dab, punk slang US
2. Novice
novice, beginner, neophyte, tyro, hobbyist, enthusiast, devotee, lover, greenhorn, prosumer, buff, votary
Adjective
1. Amateurish
2. Recreational
Other
non-professional, avocational
Definitions
- n. 1
Someone who is unqualified or insufficiently skillful.
The entire thing was built by some amateurs with screwdrivers and plywood.
- n. 2
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.
The contest is only open to amateurs.
- adj. 1
Non-professional.
- adj. 2
Created, done, or populated by amateurs or non-professionals.
Related words
Forms
- Plural
- amateurs → dilettantes, dabblers, virtuosos, connoisseurs…
Choose the right word
Etymologically, the amateur is one who loves, the connoisseur one who knows. In usage, the term amateur is applied to one who pursues any study or art simply from the love of it; the word carries a natural implication of superficialness, tho marked excellence is at times attained by amateurs.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- virtuoso Mary is a virtuoso recorder player.
- connoisseur I am a connoisseur when it comes to change of scenery.
- dilettante He's more a dilettante than a committed professional.
- beginner Compared to you, I'm just a beginner at this game.
- novice I'm a novice at programming, but I learn quickly.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| amateur | steady | |
| virtuoso | steady | |
| connoisseur | steady | |
| dilettante | steady | |
| dabbler | steady | |
| beginner | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- dab1
- 4 letters
- punk1, buff1, tyro
- 5 letters
- lover2
- 6 letters
- critic2, unpaid2, novice2, votary
- 7 letters
- devotee3, dabbler
- 8 letters
- beginner3, virtuoso4, hobbyist3, neophyte3, prosumer, inexpert
- 9 letters
- unskilled2, greenhorn
- 10 letters
- enthusiast4, amateurish4, dilettante
- 11 letters
- connoisseur3, avocational
- 12 letters
- recreational5
- 14 letters
- unprofessional5
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (lover2 = 2 syllables).