occupation

noun oc·cu·pa·tion \ ˌä-kyə-ˈpā-shən \

|Updated on: 12 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: occupation in a Sentence

Definition of occupation

1 a : an activity in which one engages

Pursuing pleasure has been his major occupation.

b : the principal business of one's life : vocation

Teaching was her occupation.

2 a : the possession, use, or settlement of land : occupancy

the last of the historic private houses in the metropolis … still in the occupation of its hereditary owner
—Sidney (Australia) Bull.

b : the holding of an office or position

it is only … the occupation … of two offices at the same time that offends public policy
—W. D. Miller

3 a : the act or process of taking possession of a place or area : seizure

Spain's occupation of the island

b : the holding and control of an area by a foreign military force

the Roman occupation of Britain

c : the military force occupying a country or the policies carried out by it

The occupation addressed the concerns of the local population.

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occupational

play \ˌä-kyə-ˈpā-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl\ adjective

—

occupationally

adverb

See occupation defined for English-language learners

See occupation defined for kids

Examples of occupation in a Sentence

He is thinking about changing occupations and becoming a police officer.
“What's your occupation?” “I'm a stay-at-home mom.”
Swimming was their main occupation at summer camp.
Some evidence of human occupation was found in these caves.
The offices are ready for occupation.

Recent Examples of occupation from the Web

Anna survived a difficult life and hardships under German occupation, being forced to work in Germany until the Allied Liberation.

— hartford courant, courant.com, "Anna Sufin," 10 July 2018
The 18-year-old from New Hampshire moved to the city to stay with family but this week camped outside near Eighth and Cherry Streets as part of a protest that turned into a four-day occupation of the space outside a federal office building.

— anna orso, Philly.com, "Inside the Philadelphia Occupy ICE camp that police raided Thursday," 5 July 2018
The act marked the American re-occupation of San Diego during the struggle for control over California.

— pauline repard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Richard Smith joins 172-year family history of Old Town flag-waving," 23 June 2018
Rock & roll and jazz were irrevocably changed by others’ occupation of Black art.

— stereo williams, Billboard, "Kendrick Lamar, Black Language and What White Fans Don't Get About the 'N-Word'," 24 May 2018
These kids have blitzed subway passengers with information about the campaign, surveyed neighborhood residents about the best use of municipal dollars, and staged a day-long occupation of City Hall.

— livia gershon, Longreads, "More than Make-Work," 22 May 2018
During this time, World War II had the Netherlands under Nazi occupation, halting international competition for about six years.

— fiza pirani, ajc, "Who was Fanny Blankers-Koen? Google honors Olympic athlete, ‘the Flying Housewife’," 27 Apr. 2018
The disciplinary response is in contrast to how the administration reacted to a previous student occupation of Mrak Hall in 2016, which lasted five weeks to protest former Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi.

— diana lambert, sacbee, "UC Davis allowed takeover for weeks in 2016. Students now face discipline after 3 days | The Sacramento Bee," 11 Apr. 2018
Red Trees Only 12 Jewish families survived the Nazi occupation of Prague in World War II.

— chris ball, cleveland.com, "'Only the Brave,' now on DVD and Blu-ray (review)," 14 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'occupation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of occupation

Middle English occupacioun, from Anglo-French occupaciun, from Latin occupation-, occupatio, from occupare

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

occupation Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of occupation

work, employment, occupation, calling, pursuit, métier, business mean a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living. work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not.