profession

[pruh-fesh-uhn]

noun

1. a vocation requiring knowledge of some department of learning or science.

   the profession of teaching.

   Synonyms: employment, calling

2. any vocation or business.

3. the body of persons engaged in an occupation or calling.

   to be respected by the medical profession.

4. the act of professing; avowal; a declaration, whether true or false.

   professions of dedication.

   Synonyms: protestation, assertion, asseveration

5. the declaration of belief in or acceptance of religion or a faith.

   the profession of Christianity.

6. a religion or faith professed.

7. the declaration made on entering into membership of a church or religious order.

profession

/ prəˈfɛʃən /

noun

1. an occupation requiring special training in the liberal arts or sciences, esp one of the three learned professions, law, theology, or medicine

2. the body of people in such an occupation

3. the act of professing; avowal; declaration

4. 1. Also called: profession of faith. a declaration of faith in a religion, esp as made on entering the Church of that religion or an order belonging to it

   2. the faith or the religion that is the subject of such a declaration

Other Word Forms

• professionless noun
• nonprofession noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of profession¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Medieval Latin professiōn-, stem of professiō “the taking of the vows of a religious order,” from profess(us) “declared publicly” ( professed ) + -iō -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of profession¹

C13: from Medieval Latin professiō the taking of vows upon entering a religious order, from Latin: public acknowledgment; see _profess

Synonym Study

See occupation.

Example Sentences

In the postwar years of the 1950s, the accounting profession itself sought to manage the task through the Accounting Principles Board.

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Kay wants to punish Michael for his treatment of her, for his casual cruelty, for his slavish devotion to a monstrous profession.

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Others define people by their home, car, alma mater, profession and fancy holidays — the list goes on.

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To Sohm, snobbishness on the part of a sommelier is a sign of insecurity; he has seen it in some young members of his profession.

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Athens’s wealth enabled a deeper division of labor and the rise of professions like philosopher, historian, sculptor, architect, playwright and actor.

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Related Words

• art 
• business 
• career 
• craft 
• employment 
• field 
• line of work www.thesaurus.com
• occupation 
• pursuit 
• role 
• situation 
• specialty 
• undertaking