vocation

[voh-key-shuhn]

noun

1. a particular occupation, business, or profession; calling.

   Synonyms: pursuit, employment

2. a strong impulse or inclination to follow a particular activity or career.

3. a divine call to God's service or to the Christian life.

4. a function or station in life to which one is called by God.

   the religious vocation; the vocation of marriage.

vocation

/ vəʊˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. a specified occupation, profession, or trade

2. 1. a special urge, inclination, or predisposition to a particular calling or career, esp a religious one

   2. such a calling or career

Word History and Origins

Origin of vocation¹

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 ( -ate ¹ ) + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of vocation¹

C15: from Latin vocātiō a calling, from vocāre to call

Example Sentences

There are vocations filling traditional seminaries and religious communities in the U.S., loyal to Rome and to their local bishops.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

"They're a block on industrial strategy. It's full of - no disrespect to anybody in the room - PPE graduates who are really neoclassical. They don't understand the meaning of vocation and the meaning of work."

Read more on BBC

District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong issued a temporary ban on “roving patrols” where agents nabbed people off Southern California streets based on their skin color, the language spoken, their vocation and where they are located.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Since a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting federal agents from targeting people solely based on their race, language, vocation or location, the number of arrests in Southern California declined in July.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Immigration raids have slowed since a federal judge temporarily barred agents from targeting people solely based on race, language, vocation or location.

Read more on Los Angeles Times