professor

noun

pro·​fes·​sor prə-ˈfe-sər How to pronounce professor (audio)
Synonyms of professor
1
: one that professes, avows, or declares
2
a
: a faculty member of the highest academic rank at an institution of higher education
b
: a teacher at a university, college, or sometimes secondary school
c
: one that teaches or professes special knowledge of an art, sport, or occupation requiring skill
professorship
prə-ˈfe-sər-ˌship How to pronounce professor (audio)
noun

Examples of professor in a Sentence

Professor Williams will be teaching the class.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Video of the incident showed the professor grabbing and twisting the arm of the pro-Palestinian student. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026 However, Harris, the political science professor, said Amendment 4 would likely have more of an immediate impact on the state. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2026 As far as Sitharam knew, no professors had ever been investigated for violating SB 266, and the union had extensively trained them not to self-censor and to come to the union with any concerns. — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026 In fact, there are about 14 million households with no air conditioning, according to data analyzed by UC Berkeley professor Lucas Davis. — Swasti Singhai, USA Today, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for professor

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of professor was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing professor

Rhymes for professor

See All Rhymes for professor

Browse Nearby Words

professionless
professor
professorate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Professor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/professor. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

professor

noun
pro·​fes·​sor prə-ˈfes-ər How to pronounce professor (audio)
: a teacher especially of the highest rank at a college or university
professorial
ˌprō-fə-ˈsōr-ē-əl How to pronounce professor (audio)
ˌpräf-ə-, 
-ˈsȯr-
adjective
professorially
-ē-ə-lē How to pronounce professor (audio)
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on professor

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for professor

Nglish: Translation of professor for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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