unprofessional

word

Definition

Behaving or acting in a way that is not appropriate for a job or profession; lacking the skills, manners, or seriousness expected in a workplace.

Usage & Nuances

'Unprofessional' is used in formal and informal settings, mainly to criticize behavior or work quality at jobs. Common collocations: 'unprofessional conduct', 'unprofessional behavior', 'unprofessional attitude'. Avoid using it for minor mistakes—it’s stronger than 'careless'.

Example Sentences

It was unprofessional to shout at the customer.

basic

Wearing jeans to an interview is considered unprofessional.

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His email was very unprofessional.

basic

I was surprised by how unprofessional the meeting was run.

natural

Posting about work problems on social media seems pretty unprofessional.

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If the staff are late every day, it's definitely unprofessional.

natural