pro-amn.adj.
/ˌprəʊˈam/, U.S. /ˌproʊˈæm/ Chiefly Sport. Originally U.S.
A. n.
1. An event, esp. a golfing tournament, in which professionals and amateurs perform or play together.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > match or competition > [noun] > types of
all comersc1450
after-gamea1500
fore-game1594
revenge1616
plate1639
set-to1743
return match1753
bye1754
scrub-race1791
anybody's game (also race, match)1826
return1834
barney1843
bonspiel1858
handicap1861
pennant1865
home-and-home1868
benefit match1871
run-off1873
international1877
American tournament1878
Grand Prix1879
single1884
friendly1885
all-comers1889
pair1890
championship1893
round robin1894
replay1895
Olympiad1896
junior varsity1902
lightning tournament1903
rematch1903
road trip1903
pickup1905
freestyle1906
marathon1908
test1908
Derby1909
scrimmage1910
eliminator1911
twosome1911
triala1914
quadrangular1916
slug-fest1916
varsity match1921
needle contest1922
curtain jerker1923
needle match1923
open1926
needle fight1927
knock-out1928
shirt1930
masters1933
pro-amateur1934
tune-up1934
World Cup1934
pro-am1937
state1941
sizzler1942
runathon1943
mismatch1954
run-out1955
match-up1959
squeaker1961
triple-header1961
Super Bowl1967
invitational1968
needle game1970
major1976
slobberknocker1986
1937 Washington Post 8 Aug. (Sports section) 2/1 A majority of the Middle Atlantic professionels [sic] are expected to compete in the pro-am.
1968 N.Y. Times 11 July 46 They send helicopters to take me from one pro-am to another.
1976 Billings (Montana) Gaz. 24 June 1- d/7 Pate..practiced Tuesday in light rain and played in a proam Wednesday.
1991 Sports Illustr. 30 Sept. 6/3 She continues to play [golf] tournaments... It's the best way she knows to make contacts so she can play in pro-ams, exhibitions and outings.
2002 Cigar Aficionado Jan.–Feb. 90/1 If you are Joe Shmoe ponying up a few thousand to play in the pro-am, don't expect to play with Tiger or Phil or David. The marquee players will be paired with title sponsor executives.
2. An amateur who does something in a professional way, or to a professional standard; a ‘professional amateur’. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > player or sportsperson > [noun] > amateur or professional
varmint1812
shamateur1896
semi-professional1897
semi-pro1910
pro-am1951
1951 A. Green & J. Laurie Show Biz 571/1 Pro ams, professional amateurs, those pseudo-tyros who constantly appeared on so-called amateur radio and vaudeville programs.
2004 N.Y. Times Mag. 12 Dec. 88/2 Leadbeater argued that a new breed of demi-expert is evolving, collapsing the distinction between an expert and a tinkerer... In a way, pro-ams represent a return to our past: until the 20th century, much science was conducted by amateur societies.
B. adj. (attributive).
Designating or relating to an event, esp. a golfing tournament, in which professionals and amateurs play together.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > [adjective]
amateur1789
pro-amateur1886
sand lot1890
pro-am1937
non-contact1942
pro-celebrity1952
pro-celeb1953
reserve2001
1937 Washington Post 29 Sept. 21/1 Pros will take three handicap partners in the pro-am play.
1940 Vidette Messenger (Valparaiso, Indiana) 7 May 6/4 Herb Walters, Gleason Park (Gary) professional, and his three amateurs yesterday won the pro-am meet held at Lincoln Hills, southwest of Valparaiso.
1970 Times 13 Feb. 13/3 Since turning professional in 1968 Oosterhuis has won only..one pro-am event.
1992 Sports Illustr. 10 Feb. 23/3 A few pros who miss the three-day cut will have to stick around and play the fourth day because their pro-am team survived the pro-am cut.
2004 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 12 Feb. b9/1 The Greater New York Bridge Association has an annual pro-am game in which each pro plays with an am having fewer than 50 masterpoints.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2007; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.adj.1937