Profess vs. Professor — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 1, 2024
Profess involves declaring or admitting something openly, typically a belief or feeling, while professor refers to a university or college teacher of the highest rank.
Difference Between Profess and Professor
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
To profess something is to declare it openly, often referring to beliefs, feelings, or commitments. This act of professing can be personal or public, and it carries a sense of earnest declaration. On the other hand, a professor is an academic title or position, denoting a teacher of the highest rank in universities and colleges, who is often involved in lecturing, research, and guiding students.
When someone professes love, belief, or faith, they are making a declaration about their inner state or commitment to a cause or another person. This declaration might not necessarily involve formal or public acknowledgment but is significant to the individual's identity or relationships. In contrast, becoming a professor requires a significant commitment to academia, including years of study, research, and contributions to one's field, marking a professional status rather than a personal declaration.
The term "profess" is versatile, applicable in various contexts where individuals need to assert or declare something emphatically. It's about verbalizing something that is often considered to be of personal importance. Conversely, the role of a professor is specific to the academic world, involving responsibilities such as teaching, conducting research, and publishing scholarly work, which contribute to the advancement of knowledge in their field.
While "to profess" can be an action anyone might take, becoming a professor requires specific qualifications, such as a doctoral degree in most cases, along with a record of academic achievement. This distinction highlights the difference between a general act of declaration and a specific professional title earned through dedication and accomplishment in academia.
Both terms emphasize the importance of knowledge and belief but from different perspectives. Professing is about sharing or declaring beliefs or feelings, often based on personal conviction. In contrast, a professor is expected to disseminate knowledge based on extensive study and research, shaping the understanding and beliefs of students and peers in their academic community.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To declare or admit something openly
An academic of the highest rank
Context
Personal beliefs, feelings, commitments
Academic institutions
Requirements
Personal conviction or belief
Advanced degree, academic achievements
Purpose
To make known one's stance or belief
To teach, research, and contribute academically
Associated Actions
Declaring, admitting
Teaching, researching, publishing
Compare with Definitions
Profess
Affirm one's faith or allegiance.
The group professed their loyalty to the cause.
Professor
Involved in academic research.
The professor published a groundbreaking study in her field.
Profess
Admit candidly.
He professed his mistake without any hesitation.
Professor
Senior academic teacher.
The professor shared her latest findings with the class.
Profess
Declare openly.
She professed her dedication to environmental causes.
Professor
Engaged in higher education teaching.
As a professor, she encourages critical thinking.
Profess
Acknowledge feelings.
She professed her love in a heartfelt letter.
Professor
Holder of an academic chair.
He was appointed as Professor of History last year.
Profess
Claim openly.
They professed their innocence in the face of accusations.
Professor
University or college teacher of the highest rank.
Professor Smith is leading the research project.
Profess
To affirm openly; declare or claim
"a physics major [who] professes to be a stickler when it comes to data" (Gina Maranto).
Professor
Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an academic rank at universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes".
Profess
To make a pretense of; pretend
"top officials who were deeply involved with the arms sales but later professed ignorance of them" (David Johnston).
Professor
A college or university teacher who ranks above an associate professor.
Profess
To practice as a profession or claim knowledge of
Profess medicine.
Professor
A teacher or instructor.
Profess
To affirm belief in
Profess Catholicism.
Professor
One who professes.
Profess
To receive into a religious order or congregation.
Professor
The most senior rank for an academic at a university or similar institution, informally also known as "full professor."
Profess
To make an open affirmation.
Professor
A teacher or faculty member at a college or university regardless of formal rank.
Profess
To take the vows of a religious order or congregation.
Professor
(archaic) One who professes something, such as a religious doctrine.
Profess
To administer the vows of a religious order to (someone); to admit to a religious order.
Professor
A pianist in a saloon, brothel, etc.
Profess
(reflexive) To declare oneself (to be something).
Professor
The puppeteer who performs a Punch and Judy show; a Punchman.
Profess
(ambitransitive) To declare; to assert, affirm.
Professor
One who professed, or makes open declaration of, his sentiments or opinions; especially, one who makes a public avowal of his belief in the Scriptures and his faith in Christ, and thus unites himself to the visible church.
Profess
(transitive) To make a claim (to be something); to lay claim to (a given quality, feeling etc.), often with connotations of insincerity.
Professor
One who professed, or publicly teaches, any science or branch of learning; especially, an officer in a university, college, or other seminary, whose business it is to read lectures, or instruct students, in a particular branch of learning; as a professor of theology, of botany, of mathematics, or of political economy.
Profess
(transitive) To declare one's adherence to (a religion, deity, principle etc.).
Professor
Someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
Profess
(transitive) To work as a professor of; to teach.
Profess
To claim to have knowledge or understanding of (a given area of interest, subject matter).
Profess
To make open declaration of, as of one's knowledge, belief, action, etc.; to avow or acknowledge; to confess publicly; to own or admit freely.
The best and wisest of them all professedTo know this only, that he nothing knew.
Profess
To set up a claim to; to make presence to; hence, to put on or present an appearance of.
I do profess to be no less than I seem.
Profess
To present to knowledge of, to proclaim one's self versed in; to make one's self a teacher or practitioner of, to set up as an authority respecting; to declare (one's self to be such); as, he professes surgery; to profess one's self a physician.
Profess
To take a profession upon one's self by a public declaration; to confess.
Profess
To declare friendship.
Profess
Practice as a profession, teach, or claim to be knowledgeable about;
She professes organic chemistry
Profess
Confess one's faith in, or allegiance to;
The terrorists professed allegiance to the Muslim faith
He professes to be a Communist
Profess
Admit, make a clean breast of;
She confessed that she had taken the money
Profess
State freely;
The teacher professed that he was not generous when it came to giving good grades
Profess
Receive into a religious order or congregation
Profess
Take vows, as in religious order;
She professed herself as a nun
Profess
State insincerely;
He professed innocence but later admitted his guilt
She pretended not to have known the suicide bomber
She pretends to be an expert on wine
Common Curiosities
Can anyone profess something?
Yes, professing does not require special qualifications; it's about openly declaring or admitting something.
Why do people profess their beliefs or feelings?
People profess to express their convictions, to share their personal truths, or to commit openly to something or someone.
Is being a professor the same across all countries?
While the role is generally similar, the path to becoming a professor and the associated ranks can vary by country.
Do all professors teach?
While teaching is a primary function, some professors may focus more on research, especially in research-intensive institutions.
What impact do professors have on society?
Professors contribute to society by advancing knowledge, educating future generations, and often participating in societal debates and policy-making.
What qualifications are needed to become a professor?
Typically, a doctoral degree in the relevant field, along with significant academic contributions like research and publications.
What differentiates a professor from other teachers?
Professors typically hold the highest academic rank in universities, distinguished by their research, publications, and teaching at the collegiate level.
How does one become a professor?
Becoming a professor usually involves earning an advanced degree, gaining teaching experience, and contributing to one's academic field through research.
Is the term "professor" used differently in different fields?
The term is most commonly used in academia, though its application to ranks and roles can vary across disciplines and institutions.
How do societal values influence what individuals profess?
Societal values can greatly influence the topics and beliefs individuals feel comfortable or compelled to profess publicly.
Can professing something affect one’s professional life?
Depending on the context, professing certain beliefs or commitments can impact one's professional life, positively or negatively.
What challenges do professors face in academia?
Challenges include securing funding for research, maintaining teaching and research quality, and navigating the pressures of academic publishing.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
