English

Noun

promag ‎(plural promags)

1. (dated, fandom slang) A professionally published magazine.
   • 1939 January, Tucker, Arthur Wilson "Bob", “Fun Dept”, in Le Zombie, 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, Fortier, Joe, “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, Willis, Walter Alexander, “On The Level”, in Slant, number 3:

     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.

Synonyms

• prozine

Antonyms

• fanmag
• fanzine

References

• Jeff Prucher, editor (2007) Brave New Words: The Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction, Oxford; New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-530567-8
• promag n. at the OED Science Fiction Citations Project