vocational

adjective

vo·​ca·​tion·​al vō-ˈkā-sh(ə-)nəl 

1

: of, relating to, or concerned with a vocation

2

: of, relating to, or undergoing training in a skill or trade to be pursued as a career

a vocational school

vocational students

vocationally adverb

Examples of vocational in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Hours will be reduced for an additional eight classified positions — seven Extended Student Services program aides and one vocational education instructional assistant. —Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026

The new vocational education is not your grandfather’s shop class. —Gerald Bradshaw, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026

Opened in 1967, the campus bears the name of Samuel Lawton Martin, Austin ISD’s former vocational coordinator and director of the evening school program. —Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 23 Feb. 2026

Before the sheriff closed Jail North in 2022, the facility was considered a model for other juvenile jails because of its educational and vocational programs. —Ryan Oehrli february 16, Charlotte Observer, 16 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1652, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing vocational

• licensed vocational nurse
• vocational school

Rhymes for vocational

• formational
• foundational
• gestational
• gradational
• locational
• mutational
• nonrational
• notational
• relational
• rotational
• sensational
• translational

Kids Definition

vocational

adjective

vo·​ca·​tion·​al vō-ˈkā-shnəl 

-shən-ᵊl

1

: of, relating to, or concerned with a vocation

2

: of, relating to, or involved in training in a skill or trade to be followed as a career

vocational school

vocationally

-ē

adverb