profession

noun

pro·​fes·​sion prə-ˈfe-shən 

1

a

: a principal calling, vocation, or employment

b

: the whole body of persons engaged in a calling

c

: a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation

2

: an act of openly declaring or publicly claiming a belief, faith, or opinion : protestation

3

: the act of taking the vows of a religious community

4

: an avowed religious faith

Synonyms

• affirmation
• assertion
• asseveration
• avouchment
• avowal
• claim
• declaration
• insistence
• protestation

Examples of profession in a Sentence

The doctor talked to students who are thinking about entering the profession.

Most professions in the medical field require years of training.

Their daughter recently became a member of the medical profession.

Recent Examples on the Web

Platforms like Stan empower freelancers from all kinds of professions and niches to monetize their expertise and diversify their business in new ways. —Chelsea Tobin, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025

First described by David Dunning and Justin Kruger in 1999, the phenomenon is observed across various professions and fields of study. —Robert Pearl, Twin Cities, 14 June 2025

Of course, the hall-of-fame model for the stunt profession is the legendary Yakima Canutt, who is to stunt people what Chuck Yeager is to jet pilots. —Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 14 June 2025

The San Diego program will target majors in behavioral health, including clinicians, practitioners and psychiatric nurses — professions with a collective 8,000-worker shortfall in San Diego. —Jon Marcus, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English professioun, from Anglo-French profession, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin profession-, professio, from Latin, public declaration, from profitēri

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing profession

• oldest profession
• the oldest profession
• the oldest profession in the world
• the world's oldest profession
• world's oldest profession

Rhymes for profession

• accession
• aggression
• compression
• concession
• confession
• depression
• digression
• discretion
• expression
• impression
• obsession
• oppression

Kids Definition

profession

noun

pro·​fes·​sion prə-ˈfesh-ən 

1

: the act of taking the vows of a religious community

2

: a public declaring or claiming (as of a belief, faith, or opinion)

3

a

: an occupation (as medicine, law, or teaching) that requires specialized knowledge and often advanced education

b

: a principal occupation or employment

c

: the people working in a profession

the legal profession

Medical Definition

profession

noun

pro·​fes·​sion prə-ˈfesh-ən 

1

: a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation

2

: the whole body of persons engaged in a calling