vocation

noun

vō-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce vocation (audio)
Definition of vocationnext
1
as in profession
the activity by which one regularly makes a living finally made sculpting her vocation instead of just a hobby

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fraternity
the body of people in a profession or field of activity she says that although she respects certain journalists, she despises the vocation politics has its honest and its dishonest practitioners, just like any other vocation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 vocation His is a vocation to un-forgetting, to recording the memories of tomorrow’s yesterday. — Jason Parham, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026 Here suit making is both an art form and a vocation, and the experience of buying one is positively theatrical. — Clare Coulson, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026 Beyond the jockeying for credit among the AI vanguard and the implications for the future of mathematics as a human vocation, there’s a mathematical issue. — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 Sep. 2026 The coaching field is a vocation focused on a genuine desire to watch people succeed. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for vocation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vocation
  1. profession
  2. fraternity
  3. occupation
  4. corps
  5. work
  6. employment
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
  • The resolution was introduced after revelations about Cornell’s handling of Jane Doe’s allegations that she was raped at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024.
    — Leah Willingham, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
  • This week, a woman sued Alpha Delta Phi and its Chicago chapter, alleging she was raped in February by a member of the fraternity at the University of Chicago.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of fraternity
Noun
  • And though some Palestinians were justly fighting to end the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza and to create an independent state, others were waging an unjust war to destroy Israel altogether.
    — Jordi Graupera, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Across 25 occupations that past technology upended, employment fell an extra 4% over five years for every point the national unemployment rate climbed.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of occupation
Noun
  • Mahomes was frequently hurried, and with Rashee Rice once again out, there was little separation from the Kansas City receiving corps.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Star receiver Puka Nacua and Rams tight ends must keep carrying a Davante Adams-less receiving corps.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of corps
Noun
  • The announcement did not specify when testing would begin or disclose results from previous development work.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Every order completed by a robot represents work that potentially could have gone to a human courier.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of work
Noun
  • Those with high levels of hope had better later outcomes in health, education and employment.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The convergence of young people’s anger over education and employment, fears of authoritarianism, and concern for the sanctity of the vote poses a serious challenge to the Modi government.
    — Asim Ali, Time, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of employment

Browse Nearby Words

vocals
vocation
vocations
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Vocation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vocation. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of milieu

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All