dilettante

amateur

noun adjective dee-leht-TAHN-teh Rare

Origin: Italian dilettare (to delight), from Latin delectare

Usage Note

Dilettante can be used as a noun (un dilettante) or as an adjective (un fotografo dilettante). It ranges from neutral 'amateur' to mildly pejorative 'dabbler'. In sport, calcio dilettantistico refers to amateur football leagues. The word entered English with a more dismissive tone than it carries in Italian.

Examples

"È un dilettante appassionato di fotografia."

Natural Translation

He is an amateur passionate about photography.

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