as in hobby
an activity outside of one's regular occupation that is engaged in primarily for pleasure
photography is merely an avocation for me—I've never tried to make money off of it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of avocation
Wine, however, was an avocation that eventually became part of his portfolio.
—
Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 18 June 2024
And the Romans had other, less-objectionable avocations.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024
Today, cooking has become a major generational avocation and source of pride.
—Alexandra Moe, The Atlantic, 6 Dec. 2023
Carter’s new avocation as an end-of-life doula is an outgrowth of the more than 15 years the Detroit native has spent doing hospice work in her free time.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Sep. 2023
See All Example Sentences for avocation
Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 18 June 2024
And the Romans had other, less-objectionable avocations.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024
Today, cooking has become a major generational avocation and source of pride.
—Alexandra Moe, The Atlantic, 6 Dec. 2023
Carter’s new avocation as an end-of-life doula is an outgrowth of the more than 15 years the Detroit native has spent doing hospice work in her free time.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Sep. 2023
See All Example Sentences for avocation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avocation
Noun
-
Discretionary expenses include things like entertainment, vacations and hobbies.—
Lynn Mayabb,
Kansas City Star,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Raquel has many hobbies, including learning pickleball, going to the beach, and DJ-ing.—
Staff Author,
Parents,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But the broader debate—the question of when, exactly, the pursuit of athletic achievement compromises the bulk of the achievement itself—has begun to reverberate far beyond the mountains.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Despite her own entrepreneurial pursuits, her advice to young women has centered around prioritizing homemaking.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Athletique There is something edgy yet soft about a funnel-neck in a technical fabric—lean in and pair a wind- and water-resistant shell with trousers and sneakers for a touch of sport, or style it with a pencil skirt and kitten heels for a more feminine feel.—
Andrea Zendejas,
Vogue,
16 Sep. 2025
-
In a sport where you are being watched by thousands of strangers almost every night, Vanderbilt shares the belief that fashion is about showing a little bit of yourself.—
Jamie Barton,
CNN Money,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
As with most of Hedley’s designs, the 75 percent scale recreation can actually be driven.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Nonetheless, the experiment has endured through the decades, spawning movies, books, television episodes, and recreations.—
Leah Hudson,
Popular Science,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Avocation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avocation. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share