vocation
[voh-key-shuh n]
- 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.
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Origin of vocation
Synonyms
See more synonyms for vocation on Thesaurus.com1. employment, pursuit.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for vocation
Contemporary Examples
“The golden age of Parisian smiles nurtured, and was nurtured by, the rise of dentistry as a vocation,” writes Jones.
It was only once he directed and starred in his own short film that he decided to pursue acting as a vocation.
In short, this Austin native needs to make some hard decisions about his vocation.
“A lot of new members have a sense of public service as vocation,” he says.
America’s Catholic Moment, and Its New Breed of Catholic PoliticiansMichael Sean Winters
March 19, 2013
Telling people only what they want to hear has become a vocation.
Historical Examples
But he has lit upon his vocation at last—he is a born pudding-maker.
Camps, Quarters and Casual PlacesArchibald Forbes
My present vocation pays well; in fact, I am beginning to lay by.
Night and Morning, CompleteEdward Bulwer-Lytton
He is fitted for his vocation; he has watched all night by his armor.
The Works of Whittier, Volume VI (of VII)John Greenleaf Whittier
Unless you consider it your vocation to be a wealthy American.
The Black BagLouis Joseph Vance
She opened her school with thirty scholars and found out her vocation.
A Singer from the SeaAmelia Edith Huddleston Barr
vocation
- a specified occupation, profession, or trade
- a special urge, inclination, or predisposition to a particular calling or career, esp a religious one
- such a calling or career
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Word Origin
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
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Word Origin and History for vocation
n.
early 15c., "spiritual calling," from Latin vocationem (nominative vocatio), literally "a calling," from vocatus "called," past participle of vocare "to call" (see voice (n.)). Sense of "one's occupation or profession" is first attested 1550s.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper