vocation
Americannoun
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a particular occupation, business, or profession; calling.
- Synonyms:
- pursuit, employment
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a strong impulse or inclination to follow a particular activity or career.
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a divine call to God's service or to the Christian life.
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a function or station in life to which one is called by God.
the religious vocation; the vocation of marriage.
noun
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a specified occupation, profession, or trade
-
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a special urge, inclination, or predisposition to a particular calling or career, esp a religious one
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such a calling or career
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Etymology
Origin of vocation
1400–50; late Middle English vocacio ( u ) n < Latin vocātiōn- (stem of vocātiō ) a call, summons, equivalent to vocāt ( us ) past participle of vocāre to call ( see -ate 1) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
Unless you can find someone to pay you to sip fancy tropical drinks on the beach, your vocation is not likely to be a vacation. Rather, the word means something you know how to do––or what you do for a living. The word vocation derives from the Latin vocare "to call." To become a priest, you need to feel that you have been "called" to the ministry directly by God. Their job is their calling, or vocation. An avocation is something you do because you love it. Everyone should make it their goal to have their avocation become their vocation.
Vocabulary lists containing vocation
Can I Work It? Words for "Job"
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Latin Love, Vol I: vocare
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Anthem
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Statistics from the National Religious Vocation Conference show that the average age of women entering religious service is 28.
From Fox News • Jan. 27, 2020
Vocation talk can quickly morph into happy talk.
From New York Times • Feb. 2, 2019
"There's No Vacation from Vocation" covers the role of God's will in day-to-day decisions.
From US News • Sep. 22, 2015
Others expected to list before the end of the year include Australian packaging group Pact Group, consumer electronics retailer Dick Smith Holdings Ltd, and education training provider Vocation Ltd.
From Reuters • Nov. 27, 2013
The only case in which an expert psychologist has attempted this is to be found in Münsterberg's recent book on "Vocation and Learning."
From Vocational Psychology: Its Problems and Methods by Hollingworth, Harry L.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
