profile
B2Neutral (common in formal, informal, and technical contexts)
Definition
Meaning
A side or outline view of a face or object; a concise descriptive summary of a person, organization, or group.
A public representation or visibility of a person, company, or institution; a graphical representation of data across a surface; in computing, a set of stored user settings or preferences.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term spans concrete (a physical shape) to abstract (a digital summary). As a verb, it often implies measurement, analysis, or strategic presentation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. In corporate contexts, 'high-profile' is slightly more frequent in UK media. US usage more commonly employs 'profile' as a verb in law enforcement/data contexts ('to profile someone').
Connotations
In both varieties, 'profiling' (verb) carries potentially negative connotations linked to stereotyping, especially racial profiling.
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects. The noun form is slightly more frequent than the verb.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] a profile (create, write, maintain)[adjective] profile (high, low, public)profile of [noun] (a profile of the artist)profile [noun] (verb: profile candidates)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “keep a low profile (to avoid attention)”
- “raise someone's profile (to increase visibility)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to market visibility or a client/customer dossier. 'We need to raise the company's profile in Asia.'
Academic
Used for demographic summaries or graphical cross-sections. 'The soil profile showed distinct layers.'
Everyday
Most common for social media/online identity. 'Update your dating profile.'
Technical
In engineering: a shape's cross-section. In computing: a set of user-specific configurations.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The documentary sought to profile the life of a modern farmer.
- Police are not allowed to profile individuals based on ethnicity.
American English
- The article profiles three emerging tech startups.
- The software profiles system performance over time.
adjective
British English
- She gave a profile interview to the Sunday Times.
- The study included a profile analysis of each participant.
American English
- It was a high-profile case that attracted media attention.
- We need a profile view of the architectural model.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Her profile picture on the app is a photo of her dog.
- You can see his profile in this drawing.
- The company has a high profile in the sports industry.
- I updated my work profile on the website.
- The journalist wrote a detailed profile of the new prime minister.
- After the scandal, he decided to keep a low profile for a while.
- Market researchers profiled the typical consumer as urban and tech-savvy.
- The geological profile revealed strata dating back millions of years.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Picture a PROfessional FILE: a 'profile' is like a professional file summarizing a person or thing.
Conceptual Metaphor
PEOPLE/ORGANIZATIONS ARE SHAPES (a profile is an outline). VISIBILITY IS HEIGHT (a high/low profile).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'profile' as 'профиль' in all contexts. For 'keep a low profile,' use 'оставаться незаметным,' not 'держать низкий профиль.'
- The Russian 'анкета' is closer to a form/questionnaire, while 'profile' is a descriptive summary.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'profile' to mean 'CV' or 'resume' (a profile is less formal/structured).
- Confusing 'profile' (side view/summary) with 'portfolio' (a collection of work).
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase means 'to avoid public attention'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is significantly more common as a noun. The verb form is frequent in specific contexts like journalism, data analysis, and law enforcement.
A profile is typically a shorter, focused summary often highlighting specific characteristics or a current situation. A biography is a more comprehensive, narrative account of a person's entire life.
Yes. You can have a company profile, a product profile, a risk profile, or a geological profile (a cross-section of the earth).
Because it is associated with 'profiling,' such as racial or ethnic profiling, which is the discriminatory practice of targeting individuals based on perceived group characteristics rather than personal behaviour.