vocation
noun
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When vocation was first used in English in the 15th century it referred specifically to a summons from God to perform a particular task or function in life, especially a religious one. This meaning is no surprise given the word's source: it comes from Latin vocation-, vocacio, meaning "summons," which in turn comes from vocāre, meaning "to call." Vocation also has a secular position in the English language as a word for the strong desire to do a certain kind of work, or as a word for the work itself, making vocation a synonym of the words calling and occupation.
Examples of vocation in a Sentence
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026
His vocation may vary—movie star (in Jay Kelly), art-house director (Sentimental Value), blockbuster Tudor playwright (Hamnet)—but his problem tends to be the same.
—Susie Goldsbrough, The Atlantic, 28 Dec. 2025
The two things people in our vocation should always strive to provide are, first, reliable information delivered in a timely manner, and second, our judgment about what is and isn’t important.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 23 Dec. 2025
Like, part of committing to that kind of vocation is to be taken away, to be exiled, to be on the outside, to be alienated, and how often that happens.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 13 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vocation
Cite this Entry
“Vocation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vocation. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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vocation
noun
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