occupational

adjective

oc·​cu·​pa·​tion·​al ˌä-kyə-ˈpā-sh(ə-)nəl 

1

: of or relating to a job or occupation

occupational choices

occupational training/skills

occupational safety

Physiatrists commonly treat back and neck pain and other musculoskeletal problems, including sports injuries and occupational problems like repetitive stress injury.

—C. Claiborne Ray

2

: relating to or engaged in the military occupation of a country

served as part of an occupational force

occupational troops

occupationally adverb

Examples of occupational in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Durbin planned to move her mother down to Tampa with her as Shankland began occupational, physical and speech therapy sessions. — Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026

Doctors diagnose it by ruling out other causes of chronic kidney disease, along with a patient's occupational and environmental exposures, Paidi said. — Shiv Sudhakar, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2026

The issue of funding for occupational licensing boards and fees for licensing will be the focus of the next commission meeting, slated for mid-October. — Danielle J. Brown, Baltimore Sun, 15 Sep. 2026

This year's athletes were joined on court by coaches working with speech, occupational, physical and behavioral therapists to improve motor skills, encourage social engagement and build confidence. — Anna Rodin, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

occupation + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1766, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing occupational

• occupational hazard
• occupational therapy

Rhymes for occupational

• aspirational
• avocational
• calculational
• combinational
• computational
• conformational
• confrontational
• congregational
• conversational
• correlational
• deformational
• derivational

Kids Definition

occupational

adjective

oc·​cu·​pa·​tion·​al

ˌäk-yə-ˈpā-shnəl, 

-shən-ᵊl

: of or relating to one's occupation

a report on occupational health and safety

occupationally

-ē

adverb

Medical Definition

occupational

adjective

oc·​cu·​pa·​tion·​al ˌäk-yə-ˈpā-shnəl, -shən-ᵊl 

: relating to or being an occupational disease

occupational asthma

occupationally

-ē 

adverb