am·a·teur 
/ˈæməˌtɚ/ noun
plural am·a·teurs /ˈæməˌtɚ/ noun [count] 1 : a person who does something (such as a sport or hobby) for pleasure and not as a job
▪ She played soccer as an amateur before turning professional. ▪ These photos were taken by both amateurs and professionals. 2 : a person who does something poorly : a person who is not skillful at a job or other activity
▪ The people running that company are a bunch of amateurs. ▪ Only amateurs make this kind of mistake. ▪ He's a mere amateur when it comes to cooking. [=he doesn't know how to cook well]
▪ She played soccer as an amateur before turning professional. ▪ These photos were taken by both amateurs and professionals.
▪ The people running that company are a bunch of amateurs. ▪ Only amateurs make this kind of mistake. ▪ He's a mere amateur when it comes to cooking. [=he doesn't know how to cook well]
— amateur adjective always used before a noun
▪ amateur photographers/athletes ▪ an amateur competition [=a contest for amateurs] ▪ They competed at the amateur level.
▪ amateur photographers/athletes ▪ an amateur competition [=a contest for amateurs] ▪ They competed at the amateur level.
— am·a·teur·ism /ˈæməˌtɚˌɪzəm/ noun [noncount]
▪ a strong supporter of amateurism in sports ▪ the amateurism [=the lack of skill] of her writing style
/ˈæməˌtɚˌɪzəm/ noun [noncount] ▪ a strong supporter of amateurism in sports ▪ the amateurism [=the lack of skill] of her writing style
