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

As falls experts, physical and occupational therapists are uniquely trained to assess each person’s fall risk and develop a plan to help improve their mobility with balance training, strength exercises, and other interventions far before a fall occurs. —Brian Frost, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026

Schwartz also served as an occupational medicine physician and clinical epidemiologist at the Navy and Marine Corps Force Health Protection Command. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026

At American Family Care alone, our network of more than 400 walk-in clinics across the United States has delivered more than six million visits since January 2025 for a wide range of needs, from occupational medicine and pain management to physicals, flu, minor episodic issues and small injuries. —Jeremy Morgan, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026

Importantly, these findings hold beyond occupational exposure. —Christos Makridis, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 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