Definition of avocationnext
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

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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 Dramatically groaning and moaning about the heat in the summer is my avocation. Sherry Kuehl, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2024 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 See All Example Sentences for avocation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avocation
Noun
  • Brett Wooderson, a longtime customer, agreed that the appreciation for beer and brewing as a hobby stands out.
    Janice Phelan, Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2026
  • With any luck, 2026 could be the year of the hobby.
    Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • This commitment marks a dramatic shift from Chicago’s lukewarm pursuit last February, when the Ricketts family ownership group authorized team president Jed Hoyer to offer Bregman a four-year, $115 million contract.
    Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2026
  • Giroux and Flowers said the film explores Greenberg’s pursuit as professional boundaries are tested.
    Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 11 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • In 2020, Idaho was the first state in the country to approve the measure categorically barring transgender women and girls from women’s and girls sports.
    Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 14 Jan. 2026
  • For brands, these partnerships offer cultural relevance, direct access to consumers, and a chance to test performance products in one of the few individual sports where personal style shines.
    Jessica Schiffer, Vogue, 14 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Outside the center and elsewhere around Ketchikan, visitors can find newer totem poles, including recreations carved as part of a Civilian Conservation Corps project that began in 1930s and modern-day totem poles by master carvers.
    Eve Chen, USA Today, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Peru sits along the Mississinewa River in north-central Indiana, and has antique shopping, farm experiences, and outdoor recreation worth checking out any time of year.
    Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 9 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Avocation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avocation. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.

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