Definition of occupation
1a : 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.
2a : 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
3a : the act or process of taking possession of a place or area : seizure Spain's occupation of the islandb : the holding and control of an area by a foreign military force the Roman occupation of Britainc : the military force occupying a country or the policies carried out by it The occupation addressed the concerns of the local population.
occupationally
adverbExplore M-W
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
-
Tommie Camarillo remembers as a young mother bringing her 2-year-old daughter to the 12-day occupation that drew people from around the Southwest.
-
Maraita believes occupation won’t end any time soon.
-
Last month, J.P.Morgan Chase donated $500,000 to the Community Learning Center in Fort Worth to support skills training in high-growth, high-demand occupations, especially in aerospace and advanced manufacturing.
-
The stunning speed of Israel’s military victory; the sheer magnitude of the Arab defeat; the conquest of Jerusalem; the enduring nature of the Israeli occupation and the settlement enterprise—all these things guaranteed that high profile.
-
The move represented a major breakthrough among American allies that still clash regularly over issues stemming from Japan’s more than three-decade occupation of South Korea.
-
Breaking The Silence, a group of disillusioned Israeli military veterans, and the grassroots human rights collective B’Tselem are both dedicated to exposing the harsh reality of life under occupation.
-
Sometimes, and not nearly often enough, a politician sees his way through the fog that surrounds his daily occupation and arrives at a truth so solid and unyielding that the politician can't do anything else except share it with the world.
-
To see the West Bank and East Jerusalem today, as Chabon and Waldman’s contributors did, is to encounter a military occupation that is deeply entrenched, while settlers, filled with zeal, are constantly and steadily expanding their enterprise.
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
Synonym Discussion of occupation
OCCUPATION Defined for English Language Learners
occupation
playDefinition of occupation for English Language Learners
-
: the work that a person does : a person's job or profession
-
: an activity that a person spends time doing
-
: the activity of living in or using a particular place
OCCUPATION Defined for Kids
occupation
playDefinition of occupation for Students
1 : a person's business or profession His uncle was a tailor by occupation.
2 : the act of using or taking possession and control of a place Human occupation of this area began thousands of years ago.
Learn More about occupation
-
See words that rhyme with occupation Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for occupation Spanish Central: Translation of occupation Nglish: Translation of occupation for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of occupation for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up occupation? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!