plural careers
1
: a job or profession that someone does for a long time
I want to make teaching my career. = I want to have a career as a teacher. [=I want to be a teacher]
She hopes to pursue a career in medicine.
—often used before another nounHe was a career diplomat/soldier. [=he was a diplomat/soldier for all or most of his working life]
2
: a period of time spent in a job or profession
My career as a waitress lasted one day.
During his long career in advertising he won numerous awards and honors.
Cite this Entry
“Career.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/career. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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