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Amateur vs Volunteer - What's the difference?

amateur | volunteer |

As nouns the difference between amateur and volunteer

is that amateur is a lover {{term|of}} something while volunteer is one who enters into, or offers for, any service of his/her own free will, especially when done without pay.

As an adjective amateur

is non-professional.

As a verb volunteer is

to enlist oneself as a volunteer.

amateur

Noun

(en noun)
  • A lover (of) something.
  • * 2006 , John Hailman, Thomas Jefferson on Wine , University of Mississippi 2006, p. x:
  • he conducted extensive correspondence on wines with European suppliers, employing a wine vocabulary familiar to any modern amateur of wines.
  • A person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science as to music or painting; especially one who cultivates any study or art, from taste or attachment, without pursuing it professionally.
  • She is an accomplished amateur woodworker.
  • Someone who is unqualified or insufficiently skillful.
  • The entire thing was built by some amateurs with screwdrivers and plywood.

    Derived terms

    * radio amateur

    Synonyms

    * dilettante * bungler

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Non-professional.
  • Created, done, or populated by amateurs or non-professionals.
  • amateur sports
  • Showing a lack of professionalism, experience or talent.
  • Duct tape is a sure sign of amateur workmanship.

    Derived terms

    * amateur hour * amateur night

    volunteer

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who enters into, or offers for, any service of his/her own free will, especially when done without pay.
  • (label) One who enters into military service voluntarily, but who, when in service, is subject to discipline and regulations like other soldiers; -- opposed to conscript; specifically, a voluntary member of the organized militia of a country as distinguished from the standing army.
  • (label) A person who acts out of his own will without a legal obligation, such as a donor.
  • in Wikipedia.
  • A native or resident of the American state of Tennessee.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • (label) To enlist oneself as a volunteer.
  • (label) To do or offer to do something voluntarily.
  • to volunteer for doing the dishes
  • (label) To offer.
  • to volunteer an explanation
  • To grow without human sowing or intentional cultivation.
  • To offer the services of (someone else) to do something.
  • My sister volunteered me to do the dishes.

    References

    *