amateurism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, academic, journalistic
Quick answer
What does “amateurism” mean?
The practice, quality, or status of being an amateur.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The practice, quality, or status of being an amateur; engaging in an activity for pleasure rather than as a profession.
A lack of professional skill or expertise; the characteristic of being unskilled or done in an unprofessional manner.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Both varieties use the word similarly.
Connotations
Slightly more common in British English in sports journalism, particularly regarding historical debates over professional vs. amateur status in sports like rugby and cricket.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties, with a slight edge in British English due to historical sporting contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “amateurism” in a Sentence
amateurism in [field]amateurism of [person/group]amateurism versus professionalismdebate over amateurismVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “amateurism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No direct verb form. Related: 'to amateurise' is rare.]
American English
- [No direct verb form. Related: 'to amateurize' is rare.]
adverb
British English
- The report was amateurishly compiled.
- He played the role amateurishly but with enthusiasm.
American English
- The website was amateurishly designed.
- The team managed the crisis amateurishly.
adjective
British English
- The amateurish performance was criticised in the reviews.
- He made an amateurish attempt at repairing the clock.
American English
- The plan seemed amateurish and poorly thought out.
- She dismissed his argument as amateurish.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Critically: 'The project's failure was due to sheer amateurism in management.'
Academic
Descriptively: 'His paper examines the decline of amateurism in 19th-century science.'
Everyday
Critically: 'There's a bit of amateurism in the way they've painted that fence.'
Technical
Historically/Sports: 'The International Olympic Committee abandoned its strict amateurism rules in the late 20th century.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “amateurism”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “amateurism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “amateurism”
- Misspelling as 'amatuerism'.
- Using it as a direct synonym for 'hobby' without the systemic or qualitative implication.
- Pronouncing it with stress on the third syllable (/æm.ə.'tɜː.rɪ.zəm/). Correct stress is on the first syllable.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It has a neutral, descriptive sense (the state of being an unpaid participant) and a negative sense (a lack of skill). Historical sports discourse often used it positively.
They are very close. 'Amateurism' often refers to the system, principle, or status of being amateur. 'Amateurishness' almost exclusively refers to the negative quality of being unskilled or not professional in execution.
Yes, but it is almost always critical, highlighting a lack of professional standards, planning, or expertise in a business operation or decision.
Stress the first syllable: AM-uh-tur-iz-um (/ˈæm.ə.tər.ɪ.zəm/). A common mistake is to stress the third syllable.
The practice, quality, or status of being an amateur.
Amateurism is usually formal, academic, journalistic in register.
Amateurism: in British English it is pronounced /ˈæm.ə.tər.ɪ.zəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈæm.ə.tʃɚ.ɪ.zəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms directly with 'amateurism']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: AMATEUR-ISM. An AMATEUR (someone who does something for love, not money) + the suffix -ISM (a practice or philosophy). It's the 'practice of being an amateur'.
Conceptual Metaphor
AMATEURISM IS A LACK OF RIGOUR (when negative); AMATEURISM IS PURITY OF MOTIVE (when positive, e.g., in historical sports context).
Practice
Quiz
In a negative context, 'amateurism' is closest in meaning to: