vocation

noun

vo·​ca·​tion vō-ˈkā-shən 

1

a

: a summons or strong inclination to a particular state or course of action

especially : a divine call to the religious life

b

: an entry into the priesthood or a religious order

2

a

: the work in which a person is employed : occupation

b

: the persons engaged in a particular occupation

3

: the special function of an individual or group

Did you know?

When vocation was first used in English in the 15th century it referred specifically to a summons from God to perform a particular task or function in life, especially a religious one. This meaning is no surprise given the word's source: it comes from Latin vocation-, vocacio, meaning "summons," which in turn comes from vocāre, meaning "to call." Vocation also has a secular position in the English language as a word for the strong desire to do a certain kind of work, or as a word for the work itself, making vocation a synonym of the words calling and occupation.

Synonyms

• calling
• employment
• game
• lay
• line
• occupation
• profession
• trade
• work

Examples of vocation in a Sentence

This isn't just a job for me; it's a vocation.

people who follow a religious vocation

He never felt a real sense of vocation.

I'm a carpenter by vocation, but my hobby is painting.

Recent Examples on the Web

Prevost was pastor of vocations and director of missions for the Augustinian order in Chicago and worked in Peru for several years teaching canon law. —Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 9 May 2025

In Europe and North America especially, the faith of our ancestors has been in a decades-long retreat—pews emptying, vocations dwindling, parish doors shuttering. —Christopher Hale, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025

My regular readers may have noticed that I am fascinated by good work done well, and of course, the people in fashion and costume who find vocations instead of careers. —Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025

So that was my first phase into doing community work through my vocation. —J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English vocacioun, from Anglo-French vocaciun, from Latin vocation-, vocatio summons, from vocare to call, from vox voice — more at voice

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing vocation

• miss one's vocation

Rhymes for vocation

• ablation
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation
• collation

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

vocation

noun

vo·​ca·​tion vō-ˈkā-shən 

1

: a strong desire or leaning for a certain career or course of action

especially : a divine call to the religious life

2

a

: the work a person regularly does : occupation

b

: the persons in a particular occupation

Etymology

Middle English vocacioun "a strong inclination to a particular course of action or way of life," from early French vocaciun (same meaning), from Latin vocation-, vocatio "summons," derived from vocare "to call" — related to advocate, provoke, revoke