am ‧ a ‧ teur /ˈamətə, -tʃʊə, -tʃə, ˌæməˈtɜː $ ˈæmətʃʊr, -tər/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1700-1800 ; Language: French ; Origin: Latin amator 'lover' , from amare 'to love' ]
1 . someone who does an activity just for pleasure, not as their job OPP professional :
a gifted amateur
Mickelson won his first major golf tournament while still an amateur.
2 . informal someone who you think is not very skilled at something:
You English are a bunch of amateurs when it comes to romance.
—amateur adjective :
an amateur orchestra
amateur dramatics British English (=producing or acting in plays as an interest)
—amateurism noun [uncountable] :
well-meaning amateurism