profession

American  

[pruh-fesh-uhn] / prəˈfɛʃ ən /

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.

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profession British  

/ 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

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Synonym Usage

See occupation.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• professionless
  noun
• nonprofession
  noun

Etymology

Origin of profession

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” ( see professed) + -iō -ion

Explanation

An open declaration of an opinion or belief is a profession. If you announce that you believe the earth is flat, your profession of this opinion might cause some giggling among your well-educated friends. Careers that require specialized training or advanced degrees are considered professions. Your parents may want you to go into a profession like the practice of law, but you dream of being a rodeo clown. The collective group of people practicing a profession is also called profession. The medical profession doesn't know what to make of that thing growing out of your foot. You are a medical mystery!

Example Sentences

"Our profession has been too quiet, too passive and too fragmented in the face of abuses by the companies leading the AI revolution," he said.

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

In one political contribution last year, her profession was listed as “retired.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026

Every profession — finance and media and politics and insurance and real estate — has good eggs, bad eggs and stale eggs.

From MarketWatch • May 29, 2026

Every manager who has over-achieved in those circumstances must - and is - recognised in our profession, but so are those who gain promotion from any division.

From BBC • May 26, 2026

He was accustomed to say of his profession that all he was sure of was that sulphur would cure the itch.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

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