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.
Synonyms
Examples of vocation in a Sentence
Bruno V. Manno, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
But this unique vocation is dying out, a victim of various phenomena—but mostly the lack of new recruits to replenish its aging practitioners.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 7 Oct. 2024
The judge read on as Reuss described his anguish at being denied his vocation.
—Tomas Weber, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Oct. 2024
Playing on the indoor-outdoor perception also encouraged the address’ vocation as a crossroads for cultural exchanges.
—Lily Templeton, WWD, 18 Oct. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Vocation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vocation. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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vocation
noun
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