avocation
Americannoun
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something a person does in addition to a principal occupation, especially for pleasure; hobby.
Our doctor's avocation is painting.
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a person's regular occupation, calling, or vocation.
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Archaic. diversion or distraction.
noun
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formal a minor occupation undertaken as a diversion
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not_standard a person's regular job or vocation
Other Word Forms
- avocational adjective
- avocationally adverb
Etymology
Origin of avocation
First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin āvocātiōn- (stem of āvocātiō ) “a calling away”; a- 4, vocation
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.
At home, he strove for perfection in his avocation, woodworking, where the process was more flexible but the product, for better or worse, could be definitive.
From New York Times
To imply they all prioritize these vocations or avocations over their loved ones isn’t fair, or realistic.
From Washington Post
But for decades, his avocation has been cooking.
From New York Times
That’s the question for you to answer right now, and simple avocations are the most accessible way to answer it.
From Washington Post
They’re just like the more than 250 people who told The Washington Post in April they were learning musical instruments, culinary techniques or other creative avocations.
From Washington Post
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.
