promag

English

Etymology

Blend of professional +‎ magazine.

Noun

promag (plural promags)

1. (dated, fandom slang) A professionally published magazine.

   Synonym: prozine

   Antonyms: fanmag, fanzine

   • 1939 January, Arthur Wilson "Bob" Tucker, “Fun Dept”, in Le Zombie‎^[1], number 2, page 2:

     The new pro mag, STARTLING STORIES lets itself in for a big time with the fast typers and hit and run spellers. 'NEW FANDOM' is the first, so far, to call it "STRATTLING STORIES", or words & music to that effect.

   • 1941 April, Joe Fortier, “Brass Tacks”, in Astounding Science-Fiction, volume 27, number 2, page 156:

     I guess that intangible something is closeness to perfection which makes my favorite science-fiction promag so easy to take with nary a word.

   • 1950 Spring, Walter Alexander Willis, “On The Level”, in Slant‎^[2], number 3, archived from the original on 7 March 2016:

     Jackson's 'Still Small Voice' was 'worthy of a promag' thought NORMAN ASHFIELD

Usage notes

Used especially to distinguish commercial science fiction magazines, which are published and distributed professionally, from science fiction fanzines.

References

• Jeff Prucher, editor (2007), “promag”, in Brave New Words: The Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction, Oxford, Oxfordshire, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, →ISBN.
• Jesse Sheidlower, editor (2001–2024), “promag n.”, in Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction.