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

Cooper and his wife, Sheryl, started the Solid Rock foundation in 1995 with teen centers in Phoenix, Mesa and Goodyear that offer vocational and arts training. —Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 28 Jan. 2026

His belief that factory and vocational careers are the only way forward seems to be what’s stirring up most of the controversy. —Benjamin Wolff, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026

Pursue vocational training Roxana Mînzatu, EVP for social rights and skills, quality jobs, and preparedness at the European Commission, told CNBC in a conversation at WEF that young people should pursue vocational training in order to secure these blue-collar roles. —Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 22 Jan. 2026

Formed in 1907 in Virginia, Jeanes Supervisors were Black women educators who taught vocational skills in the rural South. —Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 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