Amateur-Novice | Commonly Confused Words
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Amateur vs. Novice

Amateur

/ˈamətə/
A person who engages in an activity for pleasure rather than for financial benefit or professional reasons.

Examples:

'Not the least need for amateurs to come butting in.'No need for amateurs.'I fear you must be an amateur.'

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Novice

/ˈnɒvəs/
A person who is new to a particular activity or field and lacks experience

Examples:

As a novice, he eagerly attended every workshop.Her novice status meant she had much to learn.Inexperienced yet determined, the novice surmised.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Ways to tell them apart:

etymology
  • Novice generally refers to someone who is new to a particular activity or field, emphasizing their inexperience.
  • Amateur refers to someone who engages in an activity for pleasure rather than as a profession, not necessarily implying a lack of skill.
  • A novice can become an amateur once they gain some experience and continue doing the activity.
  • Think of a novice as a newcomer or beginner, while an amateur might imply someone with passion but who is not a professional.
  • Remember, novice is often about the level of experience, whereas amateur can suggest non-professional status.
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