unbusinesslike
1
6.3
- adjective
- /ʌnˈbɪznɪsˌlaɪk/
- We cannot afford to be unbusinesslike if we want to meet our deadlines this quarter.
Examples
-
Driving straight to the Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston, we spotted Dr. Pirquet's white jacket in the crowded, unbusinesslike weekend lobby.
Fiction book (1997) -
When they were gone, Katie shook her unbusinesslike head.
Fiction book (1999) -
It was an impasse, and highly unbusinesslike.
-
Unbusinesslike.
Fiction book (2000) -
His unbusinesslike attitude during the meeting frustrated his colleagues.
-
The proposal was full of unbusinesslike suggestions that would never work in a professional environment.
Synonyms
59
4.3
Not showing the skill or behavior expected of a trained person
Not done with the skill and care of a trained person
Antonyms
How Businesslike
∞
3.4
12
4.3
422
3.0
1
6.3
59
4.3
170
2.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
unbusinesslike = businesslike (transparent) = un + business + like
The word transparently means 'not businesslike', with un- directly negating the more familiar base adjective businesslike.
Etymology
The word unbusinesslike breaks down into un- 'not', business 'doing work', and -like 'similar to'. So something unbusinesslike is not 'similar to doing work' in a proper, professional way, and so it means disorganized and not professional.