Amature vs. Amateur: Correct Spelling & Meaning

If you are looking for the correct spelling, here it is: Amateur is the only correct spelling in standard English.

The word ends in "-eur" (A-M-A-T-E-U-R). Spelling it as "amature" is universally considered a grammatical error in professional, academic, and casual writing. If you struggle with this word, you are not alone—it is one of the most frequently misspelled words in the American English language.

Notice how the root "amare" gives us "am," and the French agent suffix "-eur" completes the word, creating the distinct spelling that differs from phonetic expectations.

To understand why the "-eur" ending exists, we have to look at French. The word comes from the Old French word "amateur," which translates to "lover of." It is built from the Latin root "amare" (meaning "to love") and the French suffix "-eur," which denotes a person who performs an action.

When English adopted the word in the late 18th century, it retained the original French spelling. While many English words ending in "-or" or "-er" denote a person doing an action (like "actor" or "worker"), borrowed French words like "amateur," "entrepreneur," and "connoisseur" keep their distinct "-eur" endings.

Noah Webster, the father of American English spelling, intentionally simplified many words, but he left "amateur" alone because its French roots were deeply established in the English lexicon, particularly in sports and arts contexts.

• Amateur status
• Amateur hour
• Amateur photographer
• Amateur athlete
• Amateur radio
• Amateur dramatics

In daily conversation, "amateur" is often used to describe someone doing something as a hobby, or to insult someone's lack of skill. For example, telling a friend, "That was an amateur move," means they did something clumsily. It is a versatile word that shifts from a neutral descriptor of hobbyists to a sharp critique of incompetence.

• That painting looks so amateur.
• Stop being such an amateur and play the game right.
• He's just an amateur when it comes to fixing cars.
• What an amateur hour that was!
• I'm just an amateur, but I think the color is wrong.

In academic writing, "amateur" is frequently used in historical or sociological contexts to describe non-professional practitioners in fields like science or archaeology. For instance, "Many early geological discoveries were made by dedicated amateurs." It distinguishes between paid professionals and passionate volunteers.

• The committee voted to revoke his amateur status.
• The play was reviewed by a group of amateur theater critics.
• The exhibit features the work of both professional and amateur botanists.
• We must avoid any amateur mistakes in our final presentation.
• The journal welcomes submissions from both academics and serious amateurs.

In business contexts, "amateur" is almost always used negatively to describe poor quality or lack of polish. Saying "This marketing campaign looks amateur" means it lacks professional execution. It is a strong word used to demand higher standards and better quality control.

• The presentation looked amateur.
• We cannot afford amateur mistakes on this project.
• His clumsy handling of the situation was pure amateur hour.
• The website design feels amateur and outdated.
• An amateur approach will not work in this market.