avocation
something a person does in addition to a principal occupation, especially for pleasure; hobby: Our doctor's avocation is painting.
a person's regular occupation, calling, or vocation.
Archaic. diversion or distraction.
Origin of avocation
1Other words from avocation
- av·o·ca·tion·al, adjective
- av·o·ca·tion·al·ly, adverb
Words that may be confused with avocation
Words Nearby avocation
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use avocation in a sentence
Maybe, he muses, it’s because his avocation as a musician has kept him limber.
Daguillard began acquiring sketches, prints and paintings in the 1960s, but the avocation really took hold during a Paris sabbatical.
Fritz Daguillard, immunologist who studied art and Haitian history, dies of covid-19 | Terence McArdle | April 2, 2021 | Washington PostHe stammered, and read and wrote a lot of poetry (mostly in secret), an avocation he changed to photography for the novel.
Colm Toibin Describes The Creation Of His Quiet Masterpiece ‘Nora Webster’ | Jennie Yabroff | November 3, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTI think it was more a matter of self-consciousness… I always saw writing about music as purely an avocation.
His former company controller, Gayer, had in the meantime discovered his true avocation.
He realized that, for the first time in his life, he had taken up a sound and serious avocation.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol | William J. LockeThe incongruity of Finucane's avocation, and his manners and appearance, amused his new friend Pen.
A History of Pendennis, Volume 1 | William Makepeace ThackerayAlso, Jim discovered that Tuck was an old Yale man and that his avocation in life seemed to be tennis.
Still Jim | Honor Willsie MorrowThe salutary influence which good example propagates, we find stamped on every avocation in life.
Gathering Jewels | James Knowles and Matilda Darroch KnowlesHe finally made a home at Teddington, in Middlesex, and devoted himself to the avocation of fruit-growing.
Essays on Modern Novelists | William Lyon Phelps
British Dictionary definitions for avocation
/ (ˌævəˈkeɪʃən) /
formal a minor occupation undertaken as a diversion
not standard a person's regular job or vocation
Origin of avocation
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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