vocation

[ voh-key-shuhn ]
/ voʊˈkeɪ ʃən /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR vocation ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a particular occupation, business, or profession; calling.
a strong impulse or inclination to follow a particular activity or career.
a divine call to God's service or to the Christian life.
a function or station in life to which one is called by God: the religious vocation; the vocation of marriage.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?
Question 1 of 10
decorum
the act of or need for making up one's mind.
dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of vocation

1400–50; late Middle English vocacio(u)n < Latin vocātiōn- (stem of vocātiō) a call, summons, equivalent to vocāt(us) past participle of vocāre to call (see -ate1) + -iōn- -ion

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH vocation

avocation vocationvacation vocation

Words nearby vocation

vocalise, vocalism, vocalist, vocalize, vocat., vocation, vocational, vocational education, vocational guidance, vocational school, vocationalism
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to vocation

duty, art, office, profession, mission, trade, racket, employment, post, occupation, handicraft, field, role, dodge, do, business, game, craft, pursuit, line

Example sentences from the Web for vocation

British Dictionary definitions for vocation

vocation
/ (vəʊˈkeɪʃən) /

noun

a specified occupation, profession, or trade
  1. a special urge, inclination, or predisposition to a particular calling or career, esp a religious one
  2. such a calling or career

Word Origin for vocation

C15: from Latin vocātiō a calling, from vocāre to call
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012