vocational

adjective

vo·​ca·​tion·​al
vō-ˈkā-sh(ə-)nəl
 How to pronounce vocational (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or concerned with a vocation
2
: of, relating to, or undergoing training in a skill or trade to be pursued as a career
a vocational school
vocational students
vocationally adverb

Examples of vocational in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
There is also a good spread of the kind of jobs refugees do, from ‘skilled’ and vocational professions to hospitality and tourism. Frey Lindsay, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025 Nearly one-quarter of high school students are focused on vocational fields. Scott Cohn, CNBC, 16 July 2025 In a LinkedIn post, Farley called for speeding up permitting processes, increasing spending on vocational training, leveraging robotics and augmented reality to help with these spaces and suggested an AmeriCorps-type program for these roles. Breana Noble, Boston Herald, 13 July 2025 Enrollment in public two-year institutions that focus on vocational programs was up 14% year-over-year in 2024, outpacing the 3% growth in public four-year schools, according to a May 12 Wells Fargo report. Bailey Schulz, USA Today, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for vocational

Word History

First Known Use

1652, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of vocational was in 1652

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vocational.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vocational. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

vocational

adjective
vo·​ca·​tion·​al vō-ˈkā-shnəl How to pronounce vocational (audio)
-shən-ᵊl
1
: of, relating to, or concerned with a vocation
2
: of, relating to, or involved in training in a skill or trade to be followed as a career
vocational school
vocationally
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on vocational

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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