Definition

1. Noun:
   • The organized sport of baseball played by individuals who receive payment for their participation: This term specifically refers to the highest levels of baseball competition where athletes are employed and compensated for their skills, as opposed to amateur or recreational play. It encompasses the leagues, teams, and associated business structures.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • He dreamed of a career in professional baseball. (This describes the organized, paid sport as a career field.)
  • The history of professional baseball in the United States dates back to the 19th century. (This refers to the institution and organized play of the sport for money.)
  • Making it to professional baseball requires immense talent and dedication. (This uses the term to denote the level of competition where players are paid.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used to distinguish the highest competitive tier from minor league systems, collegiate baseball, or international amateur competitions.
• It can imply the business, cultural, and media ecosystem surrounding paid baseball leagues.

Variants and Related Words

• Professional (adj): Engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation rather than as a pastime.
• Baseball (n): A ball game played between two teams of nine on a field with a diamond-shaped circuit of four bases.
• Major League Baseball (MLB): The specific organization comprising the highest level of professional baseball teams in the United States and Canada.

Synonyms

• Pro baseball (informal abbreviation)
• Major league baseball (when referring specifically to the top-tier leagues in North America)

Related Phrases

• To turn professional: To begin playing a sport for money.
• Professional sports: The broader category of organized, paid athletic competition.

Noun

1. playing baseball for money