What does "pro" mean?
An advantage of something, especially when contrasted with its disadvantages (cons).
Pro
/pɹəʊ/ adj, name, noun, prep, symbol, slang
adj, name, noun, prep, symbol, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An advantage of something, especially when contrasted with its disadvantages (cons).
- Grammar: pro is listed as adj, name, noun, prep, symbol, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: professional, adept, admirable crichton, advocate.
- Useful contrasts: anti, con, against.
- Usage evidence: No pro golfer in Japan is as popular as Jumbo Ozaki.
How to use "pro"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "pro" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "pro" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "pro" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "pro" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "pro" is acting as adj, name, noun, prep, symbol, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "professional" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "pro", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An advantage of something, especially when contrasted with its disadvantages (cons).
"What are the pros and cons of buying a car?"
- 2 A professional sportsman.
- 3 A prostitute. slang
"1974, "Fynn" (Sydney Hopkins), Mister God, This Is Anna Millie was one of the dozen or so pros who had a house at the top of the street."
- 4 A proproctor. UK, archaic, slang
- 5 A chemical prophylaxis taken after sex to avoid contracting venereal disease. historical, slang
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 Initialism of pressure retarded osmosis. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
- 7 an argument in favor of a proposal wordnet
- 8 A person who supports a concept or principle.
- 9 Professional. colloquial
"When it comes to DIY, he's a real pro."
- 10 Initialism of patient-reported outcome. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism, uncountable
"In the bivariate analysis carried out by subgroups, we did not find statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) between bionaïve or bioexperienced patients, patients with BMI < 30 or BMI > 30 in relation to the efficacy variables (PASI and BSA) and analyzed PROs (VAS pruritus and DLQI)."
- 11 an athlete who plays for pay wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Professional.
"He landed a pro mentorship gig."
Adjective
- 1 in favor of (an action or proposal etc.) wordnet
Adverb
- 1 in favor of a proposition, opinion, etc. wordnet
Preposition
- 1 In favor of.
"He is pro exercise but against physical exertion, quite a conundrum."
Symbol
- 1 A theoretical phonologically null pronoun
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname from Spanish.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"No pro golfer in Japan is as popular as Jumbo Ozaki."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "pro"?
Common synonyms include: professional, adept, admirable crichton, advocate, advocating, advocating.
How do you use "pro" in a sentence?
No pro golfer in Japan is as popular as Jumbo Ozaki.
How do you pronounce "pro"?
Pronounced /pɹəʊ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Late Middle English pro, from Latin prō (“on behalf of”).
Etymology 2
Clipping of professional.
Etymology 3
Clipping of prostitute.
Etymology 4
Clipping of proproctor.
Etymology 5
Clipping of prophylaxis.
Etymology 6
Borrowed from Spanish Pro.
Etymology 7
Initialism.
Etymology 8
From the term pronoun.
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