vocation

vo·ca·tion

noun \vō-ˈkā-shən\

Definition of VOCATION

1

a : a summons or strong inclination to a particular state or course of action; especially : a divine call to the religious life b : an entry into the priesthood or a religious order

2

a : the work in which a person is employed : occupation b : the persons engaged in a particular occupation

3

: the special function of an individual or group

Examples of VOCATION

1. This isn't just a job for me; it's a vocation.
2. people who follow a religious vocation
3. He never felt a real sense of vocation.
4. I'm a carpenter by vocation, but my hobby is painting.

Origin of VOCATION

Middle English vocacioun, from Anglo-French vocaciun, from Latin vocation-, vocatio summons, from vocare to call, from vox voice — more at voice

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to VOCATION

Synonyms: calling, employment, game, lay, line, profession, trade, occupation, work

Related Words: call, lifework; business, enterprise, field, livelihood, living, métier (also metier), racket [slang]; assignment, engagement, gig, mission; art, craft, handcraft, handicraft; appointment, berth, billet, office, place, position, post, situation; duty, function, job, load, task, workload

Near Antonyms: avocation, hobby, pursuit

see all synonyms and antonyms

[+]more[-]hide

Rhymes with VOCATION

aeration, Alsatian, carnation, castration, causation, cessation, cetacean, citation, Claymation, cognation, collation, conflation, C ration, creation, cremation, crenation, Croatian, crustacean, dalmatian, damnation, deflation, delation, dictation, dilation, donation, earth station, elation, Eurasian, filtration, fixation, flirtation, flotation, formation, foundation, frustration, gas station, gestation, gradation, gustation, guttation, gyration, hydration, inflation, lactation, legation, libation, location, lunation, lustration, luxation, migration, mutation, narration, negation, notation, oblation, oration, outstation, ovation, palmation, palpation, plantation, potation, predation, privation, probation, pronation, proration, prostration, pulsation, punctation, pupation, purgation, relation, rogation, rotation, salvation, sedation, sensation, serration, space station, stagflation, stagnation, starvation, striation, substation, summation, tarnation, taxation, temptation, translation, truncation, vacation, vexation, vibration, way station, workstation