profession

noun

pro·​fes·​sion prə-ˈfe-shən How to pronounce profession (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The 31-year-old attorney from Brooklyn, New York, kept his profession a secret from the other players throughout the game. Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025 And in Hoskin’s view, that is true for all professions. Eric Rosenbaum, CNBC, 22 May 2025 And starting in the fall, France will launch a training program for intimacy coordinators, a profession that remains underused in the industry. Colette Davidson, Christian Science Monitor, 21 May 2025 Choudhury said the medical profession has attempted to balance the risks and benefits of screening. Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for profession

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of profession was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Profession.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/profession. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

profession

noun
pro·​fes·​sion prə-ˈfesh-ən How to pronounce profession (audio)
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 How to pronounce profession (audio)
1
: a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation
2
: the whole body of persons engaged in a calling

More from Merriam-Webster on profession

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