What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
amateurish
Example
The painting was amateurish and lacked depth. [amateurish: adjective]
Example
He tried to fix the plumbing himself, but his work was amateurish. [amateurish: adjective]
unprofessional
Example
His comments during the meeting were unprofessional and offensive. [unprofessional: adjective]
Example
She was fired for her unprofessional conduct towards clients. [unprofessional: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Unprofessional is more commonly used than amateurish in everyday language, especially in a business or workplace setting. Amateurish is less common and is often used to describe artistic or creative works.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between amateurish and unprofessional?
Both amateurish and unprofessional are informal words, but unprofessional is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while amateurish is typically associated with a casual tone and is less appropriate for formal settings.