EMPLOYMENT Synonyms: 78 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'employment' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of employment are business , calling , métier , occupation , pursuit , and work . While all these words mean "a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living," employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer. // your employment with this firm is hereby terminated

Q: When is 'business' a more appropriate choice than 'employment'?

While in some cases nearly identical to employment , business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs. // the business of managing a hotel

Q: When would 'calling' be a good substitute for 'employment'?

In some situations, the words calling and employment are roughly equivalent. However, calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession. // the ministry seemed my true calling

Q: When can 'métier' be used instead of 'employment'?

The meanings of métier and employment largely overlap; however, métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted. // acting was my one and only métier

Q: In what contexts can 'occupation' take the place of 'employment'?

While the synonyms occupation and employment are close in meaning, occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training. // his occupation as a trained auto mechanic

Q: When is it sensible to use 'pursuit' instead of 'employment'?

The words pursuit and employment are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest. // her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit

Q: When might 'work' be a better fit than 'employment'?

Although the words work and employment have much in common, work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not. // her work as a hospital volunteer

employment

noun

im-ˈplȯi-mənt

Definition of employment

as in use

the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose the employment of the kitchen oven as a storage cupboard had predictably disastrous results

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in profession

the activity by which one regularly makes a living his regular employment is that of a restaurant waiter, but he always identifies himself as an actor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in employ

the state of being provided with a paying job the parents tried to convey to their adult son the joys of steady employment

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun employment differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of employment are business, calling, métier, occupation, pursuit, and work. While all these words mean "a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living," employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer.

your employment with this firm is hereby terminated

When is business a more appropriate choice than employment?

While in some cases nearly identical to employment, business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs.

the business of managing a hotel

When would calling be a good substitute for employment?

In some situations, the words calling and employment are roughly equivalent. However, calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession.

the ministry seemed my true calling

When can métier be used instead of employment?

The meanings of métier and employment largely overlap; however, métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted.

acting was my one and only métier

In what contexts can occupation take the place of employment?

While the synonyms occupation and employment are close in meaning, occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training.

his occupation as a trained auto mechanic

When is it sensible to use pursuit instead of employment?

The words pursuit and employment are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest.

her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit

When might work be a better fit than employment?

Although the words work and employment have much in common, work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not.

her work as a hospital volunteer

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 employment Small- to medium-sized domestic firms, particularly in the technology, pharmaceuticals, and construction sectors, offered stronger job growth and better employment conditions than larger businesses, ACET said. — Paige Bruton, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026 During his two terms, from 2002 to 2006, Brazil saw rising employment, a higher minimum wage and a major expansion of consumer power among poorer Brazilians, according to Brazil’s official census. — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026 The Catapult Workers Collective said the company’s sale included the assets only and that the union was notified their employment would not be rolled over to the new buyer. — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 Fox News Digital reached out to the station for additional comment on Kerr's current employment status but did not receive a response. — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for employment

Recent Examples of Synonyms for employment

Noun

The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office charged Bennett and Thomas Scott with intimidation of a witness, conspiracy, bribery and criminal use of a communication facility in connection with the case.

— CBS Philadelphia, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
Pro Silver Star is also seeking a preliminary injunction on the use of the costumes.

— Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of use

Noun

The clientele here is notably upscale, in-the-know, and coming from all fields of business, with an emphasis on creative professions and the luxury fashion world.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Schupbach also presented the Museum at FIT Student Award to Chloe LaBel, an art history and museum professions student at FIT, Class of 2027.

— Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of profession

Noun

In the past, coaches and general managers under his employ tried to avoid that tension.

— Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Shareholders also voted in favor of company proposals on executive compensation for certain officers and the firm’s employ stock purchase plan.

— Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of employ

Noun

Based on the information Bhengura provided on a form, his application to register to vote was accepted, and he was successfully registered to vote in Texas, according to the indictment.

— Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Oct. 2026
Over the next two years, Sguros allegedly personally paid property taxes and a water utility account while both remained in West’s name and used West’s identity on a city building permit application, the affidavit said.

— Angie DiMichele, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of application

Noun

Four years ago, crowds filled the central square of this southern port city, draped in Ukrainian flags and hugging the troops who had ended months of Russian occupation.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Oct. 2026
Transplanting Sarah Waters’s shape-shifting sapphic love story Fingersmith from Victorian England to Korea under Japanese occupation in the 20th century was a stroke of genius on the part of Park Chan-wook.

— Radhika Seth, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of occupation

Noun

Although Bass has repeatedly denounced Gates’ 14-year tenure on the campaign trail, one of her biggest financial supporters has been keeping his legacy alive.

— Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Prior to working in Hollywood, Atchity served as an assistant professor of English and comparative literature at Occidental College before earning tenure and becoming a full-time professor.

— Tanya Fedak, Variety, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of tenure

Noun

The Society for Integrative Oncology’s guidelines for Complementary Therapies and Botanicals, of which Cohen is himself a co-author, cover mainstream supportive care such as exercise, medical massage, biofeedback, and yoga.

— Torie Bosch, STAT, 24 Oct. 2026
Known as the Special Intensive Revision, the exercise has, according to the protestors, resulted in more than 130 million voters being removed from electoral lists.

— Asim Ali, Time, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of exercise

Noun

The documentary angle, of course, is this great director probing the ethics in his own vocation as an intrusive force, one that shapes lives, emotions and, in this case, the weight of a genuine tragedy.

— Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Yet despite their focusing on similar topics and themes, the three books have very distinct framing and approaches, reflected by the vocations and writing styles of the three authors.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of vocation

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employment

employments

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Employment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/employment. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of employment

noun

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Synonyms of employment

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

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Articles Related to employment

Should you 'quit' or 'resign'?

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on employment

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Word of the Day

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How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

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Popular in Wordplay

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Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

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Games & Quizzes