Amateur-Novice | Commonly Confused Words
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Master confusing words with ease

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
  • A novice is someone who is completely new to an activity, while an amateur may have some experience at a non-professional level.
  • Novice typically refers to a beginner who is just starting to learn, whereas an amateur might do it for leisure and not for monetary gain.
  • A novice's focus is on skill acquisition with often little knowledge, while an amateur might have a considerable interest in the activity but lacks formal qualifications.
  • Novice might imply an initial stage of learning, while amateur suggests ongoing participation without professional skills.
  • A novice is often in the early stages of learning, while amateurs do it for fun or satisfaction.
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