avocation

American  

[av-uh-key-shuhn] / ˌæv əˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. something a person does in addition to a principal occupation, especially for pleasure; hobby.

   Our doctor's avocation is painting.

2. a person's regular occupation, calling, or vocation.

3. Archaic. diversion or distraction.

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avocation British  

/ ˌævəˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. formal a minor occupation undertaken as a diversion

2. not_standard a person's regular job or vocation

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• avocationally
  adverb
• avocational
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of avocation

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin āvocātiōn- (stem of āvocātiō ) “a calling away”; see a- ⁴, vocation

Explanation

An avocation is an activity that you pursue when you're not at work — a hobby. Pretty much anything can be an avocation: tennis, sudoku, writing poetry. If you're the journalist Clark Kent, your avocation is changing into a skintight red and blue jumpsuit and fighting crime. A vocation is the work you do because you have to; an avocation is what you do for pleasure, not pay. The ancient Latin root is a vocare a calling away from one's work, or a distraction. Today we use the word more to refer to a serious hobby. If you like knitting beautiful sweaters, then you, my friend, have an avocation — as long as you're not making your living from it.

Related Words

• pastime