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
Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 29 Mar. 2025
In his previous vocation as a real estate developer, Trump became familiar with the things that make a building more than merely functional but surpassingly beautiful.
—Peter Tonguette, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 Mar. 2025
Her vocation requires the skill of transformation and self-abnegation, as well as a receptiveness to language and emotion not her own.
—Jordan Kisner, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2025
They were reminded, over and over, that their job was a vocation, one with a professional code: No matter who the passengers were, flight attendants were in charge of the cabin, responsible for safety in the air.
—Mckenzie Funk, ProPublica, 1 Apr. 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 22 Apr. 2025.
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vocation
noun
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