As an adjective, it means relating to a job that needs special education or training, or behaving in a serious and responsible way. As a noun, it means a person who does a job as their main paid work, not as a hobby.
From Middle English, via Old French *professionel*, from Latin *professio* meaning 'public declaration' or 'occupation'. It originally referred to people who publicly declared their occupation or faith, especially in religious contexts.
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