professional

A person who belongs to a profession.

A white-collar worker, especially one with a specialized, high-earning job such as a doctor or engineer.

• […]extra income earned this way is normally used for buying consumer goods, such as a cottage, car, boat, and so on, irrespective of whether the recipient is a professional or a tradesman.
• They devised their own categories in which the working class formed a smaller proportion of the electorate: • I Salariat (managers, administrators, professionals, semi-professionals)

A person who earns their living from a specified activity.

• My son, a Canada-based IT professional who often travels to Ukraine, told me about the exhilarating atmosphere on those Ukraine-bound trains, bringing home hundreds of the unwilling refugees, mostly women and children (including the babies,

A prostitute.euphemistic

• There was this nice lady who flirted with me at the bar, but it turned out that she was a professional.

A reputation known by name.

An expert.

• I have learned that there is a person attached to a golf club called a professional. Find out who fills that post at the Green Meadow Club; […] invite the professional, urgently, to dine with us this evening.

One of four categories of sociologist propounded by Horowitz: a sociologist who is actively concerned with promoting the profession of sociology.

Of, pertaining to, or in accordance with the (usually high) standards of a profession.

• The doctor is very professional in his manner.
• You should get professional advice about your tax liability.

Expert.broadly

Of an occupation, paid, especially so as to provide a livelihood.

• a professional musician, a professional footballer

Engaging in persistent behaviour that is exaggeratedly implied to be a full-time, paid occupation.oftenpejorative

• Don't listen to him, he's a professional bullshitter.
• As a professional optimist, I always look on the bright side.