amateurs
Not yet experts
Amateurs do something for love rather than money—the word comes from the Latin for lover.
An amateur photographer or athlete pursues the activity without professional compensation.
The term often carries a dismissive edge: That's amateur work suggests incompetence or lack of polish.
The security system was amateur hour means it was laughably inadequate.
Inexperienced newcomers
- rookiesInexperienced beginners in profession
- newcomersThose recently arrived
- neophytesInexperienced newcomers
- greenhornsInexperienced beginners
learners · tyros · fledglings · trainees · apprentices · recruits · initiates · dabblers
Not yet compensated
- unlicensedWithout official permit
- recreationalRelated to enjoyment activities
- weekendEnd-of-week rest days
- part-timeLimited work schedule
casual · self-taught · untrained · unskilled · lay · volunteer · grassroots · community
Recreational pursuit enthusiasts
- buffsKeen hobbyist followers
- aficionadosArdent, knowledgeable enthusiasts
- devoteesPassionate adherents
- fansArdent admirers or coolers
collectors · tinkerers · crafters · dabblers · weekend warriors · passionate · zealous · admirers
novices
Inexperienced newcomers
- rookiesInexperienced beginners in profession
- newcomersThose recently arrived
- neophytesInexperienced newcomers
greenhorns · learners · tyros · fledglings · trainees · apprentices · recruits · initiates · dabblers · newbies
unpaid
Not yet compensated
- unlicensedWithout official permit
- recreationalRelated to enjoyment activities
- weekendEnd-of-week rest days
part-time · casual · self-taught · untrained · unskilled · lay · volunteer · grassroots · community · backyard
hobbyists
Recreational pursuit enthusiasts
- buffsKeen hobbyist followers
- aficionadosArdent, knowledgeable enthusiasts
- devoteesPassionate adherents
fans · collectors · tinkerers · crafters · dabblers · weekend warriors · passionate · zealous · admirers · supporters
- athletesathlete, Olympian, champion, swimmers, runner
- non-expertsbeginners, novices, laypeople, non-experts, non-specialists
- nonexpertslaymen, laypeople, laypersons, laywomen, laity
- rocket hobbyistshobbyists, enthusiasts, builders, launchers, modelers
- hobbyistshobbyist, hobbyists, enthusiasts, crafters, collectors
- error sourcestypos, bugs, glitches, bungler, fumbler
amateursexperts
Highly skilled practitioners
masters · virtuosos · authorities · specialists · adepts
amateursprofessionals
Skilled, paid practitioners
pros · tradespeople · journeymen · full-timers · practitioners
amateursveterans
Former armed forces members
old hands · old-timers · lifers · incumbents
- amateur wrestlingUnpaid competitive grappling sport
- amateur hourTime of inept performance
- amateur nightEvent for nonprofessional performers
- amateur theaterNoncommercial stage performance
- amateur sportsNon-professional athletic activities
- amateur detectiveNonprofessional crime investigator