Noun

Singular professor

Plural professors

professor (plural professors)

1. A teacher or faculty member at a college or university.
2. A higher ranking for a teacher or faculty member at a college or university. Abbreviated Prof.
3. (archaic) One who professes.
   • 1897, Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers (transl.) The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage, Introduction, p. v:

     This period in which Abraham the Jew lived was one in which Magic was almost universally believed in, and in which its Professors were held in honour;

4. (US, slang) A pianist in a saloon, brothel, etc.
   • 2006, Thomas Pynchon, Against the Day, Vintage 2007, p. 415:

     You could hear [...] pianos under the hands of whorehouse professors sounding like they came with keys between the keys.

Synonyms

• prof

Derived terms

• associate professor
• assistant professor
• adjunct professor
• professorial
• professoriate
• professorship

Portuguese

The meaning of the word professor (Latin: professor, person who professes to be an expert in some art or science, teacher of high rank) varies by country. In most English-speaking countries it refers to a senior academic who holds a departmental chair, especially as head of the department, or a personal chair awarded specifically to that individual. This is the case in most Commonwealth countries (except Canada) and the Republic of Ireland (which is a former Commonwealth member). However, in the United States and Canada it is a title given to a much larger group of senior teachers in two- and four-year colleges and universities.

In most countries on the European mainland, such as Germany, France, Spain, Italy and the Scandinavian countries, the usage of professor as a legal title is limited in much the same way as in the Commonwealth countries, i.e. it is reserved for someone who holds a chair.

In Spanish-speaking Latin America, the term professor (profesor) is used for any one who teaches at a school, institute, technical school, vocational school, college, or university, regardless of the level of the subject matter taught or the level or ages of the students. This includes those teaching at the grade/elementary school, middle school, and high school levels. However, when the professor teaches at a university, then it is specifically called a "university professor".

In addition to people holding the proper academic title, universities in many countries may also bestow famous artists, athletes and foreign dignitaries with the title honorary professor, even if these persons don't have the academic qualifications that normally would be needed for a professorship. However, such "professors" are usually not expected to do any academic work for the university in question.