occupation

noun

ˌä-kyə-ˈpā-shən How to pronounce occupation (audio)
Definition of occupationnext
1
as in profession
the activity by which one regularly makes a living my primary occupation is stockbroker, but I'm a drummer in a rock band on the weekends

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in occupancy
the act or fact of residing in a place occupation of a condemned building is illegal

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun occupation differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of occupation are business, calling, employment, métier, pursuit, and work. While all these words mean "a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living," occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training.

his occupation as a trained auto mechanic

In what contexts can business take the place of occupation?

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

the business of managing a hotel

When can calling be used instead of occupation?

The words calling and occupation can be used in similar contexts, but calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession.

the ministry seemed my true calling

When might employment be a better fit than occupation?

While the synonyms employment and occupation are close in meaning, 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 it sensible to use métier instead of occupation?

The words métier and occupation are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted.

acting was my one and only métier

Where would pursuit be a reasonable alternative to occupation?

The synonyms pursuit and occupation are sometimes interchangeable, but pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest.

her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit

When would work be a good substitute for occupation?

Although the words work and occupation 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 occupation Russian troops quickly overran the city and conducted one of the most brutal occupations of the war over the seven months that followed. —Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 4 Apr. 2025 Đặng Thơ Thơ, in her thirties and in a new country, was able to turn what was just a hobby in Vietnam into her occupation in the United States. —Victoria Le, Oc Register, 3 Apr. 2025 The occupation of territory, and a new round of airstrikes, are aimed at forcing Hamas to release more Israeli hostages, Netanyahu said. —Natasha Frost, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2025 Steve Witkoff Knows Real Estate Zelensky said that Ukraine was disturbed by comments made by Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff that Ukrainians living under Russian occupation may want to be ruled by Moscow. —Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for occupation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for occupation
  1. profession
  2. occupancy
  3. vocation
  4. habitation
  5. employment
  6. residency
  7. work
Noun
  • Richard Hendricks, Pied Piper’s founder and the primary author of that algorithm, is a coder by profession but an idealist by nature.
    — Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 16 Apr. 2025
  • The native Texan has a short résumé, mainly because playing Georgie became something of a permanent profession.
    — Skyler Trepel, EW.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Definition of profession
Noun
  • Once the Cubs began their occupancy in 1916, change became typical through the ballpark’s early decades.
    — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025
  • The injunction request stated the premises were unfit for occupancy and owners did not have a valid city business license.
    — Samantha Moilanen, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of occupancy
Noun
  • In this slice-of-life portrait, Chen shows how childhood experiences can shape someone, illustrating how a childhood passion might expand their horizons without necessarily becoming a lifelong vocation.
    — 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
Definition of vocation
Noun
  • Ice may lie an inch or so below the Moon’s surface in many more regions than previously thought — which has major implications for longer-term lunar exploration or even habitation.
    — Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 6 Mar. 2025
  • The research builds on mysterious archaeological evidence that points to early human habitation in the ISEA, despite most of it being never connected to mainland Asia by land bridges or ice sheets.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 27 Feb. 2025
Definition of habitation
Noun
  • The dual-mandate of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy, set by Congress, is to maximize employment while keeping prices stable, targeting a 2 percent rate of inflation.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Huge capital allocation has not created productivity gains, employment growth, or income opportunities for the Chinese population.
    — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of employment
Noun
  • Portugal started a program in 2012, granting temporary residency status for a minimum $568k real estate investment.
    — Meehika Barua, HubSpot, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Opportunities range from single-day trail restoration projects to seasonal residencies, and many roles are still open despite staffing constraints.
    — Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of residency
Noun
  • And parenting is different from other stressors that most humans are subjected to: A big work project ultimately ends, but motherhood just keeps going.
    — Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Alexander Langmuir, its founder, was the CDC’s chief epidemiologist and has often been called the father of shoe-leather epidemiology – on-the-ground, out-of-the-office disease investigation through extensive field work and engagement with affected populations.
    — Casey Luc, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of work

Browse Nearby Words

occupants
occupation
occupations
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Cite this Entry

“Occupation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/occupation. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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