definitions

vocation

[ voh-key-shuhn ]
/ voʊˈkeɪ ʃən /
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SEE MORE 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.

RELATED WORDS

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

Nearby words

vocality, vocalize, vocally, vocals, vocat., vocation, vocational, vocational education, vocational guidance, vocational school, vocationalism

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
Can be confusedavocation vocationvacation vocation
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples 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