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 Unlike companies such as Hugo Boss, which made Nazi uniforms, the SNCF did not financially profit from the occupation. —Sarah Federman, The Conversation, 16 Apr. 2025 Kim Il Sung, North Korea’s founder and Kim Jong Un’s grandfather, purportedly used the mountain as a hideout when fighting against the Japanese occupation for independence in the 1940s. —Will Ripley, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2025 Some of them previously worked on behalf of Ukraine's own security services before switching sides when Russia's Crimean occupation began. —Andy Greenberg, Wired News, 14 Apr. 2025 The army maintained a tenuous occupation of the region. — Made By History, Time, 9 Apr. 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
  • In 2022, the family launched their reality TV show, Mathis Family Matters, which gave a glimpse into the family’s professions and relationships.
    — Makena Gera, People.com, 28 Apr. 2025
  • So this was not a day when Wilshere questioned the wisdom of the mad profession of football management?
    — Michael Walker, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025
Definition of profession
Noun
  • Seventeen studios that operate the majority of stages in L.A. posted average occupancy rates of 63 percent last year, down from 69 percent in 2023.
    — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 14 Apr. 2025
  • At its highest, in Q2 of 2024, occupancy was at 67%.
    — Lynette Rice, Deadline, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of occupancy
Noun
  • That church, the Basílica de San José de Flores, has an engraving marking the date when Francis received his vocation, while in the confessional — September 21, 1953.
    — David Culver, CNN Money, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Not all vocations are designed to provide for us financially.
    — Brittney Van Matre, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Definition of vocation
Noun
  • The base itself was a study in the feasibility of long-term human habitation on the ice sheet.
    — Katie Hunt, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025
  • All of this is now possible thanks to an advanced 3D printing-welding approach that can print these large habitation structures.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 31 Dec. 2024
Definition of habitation
Noun
  • The central bank can raise or lower short-term interest rates as a way to promote maximum employment and price stability.
    — Susan Tompor, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
  • But Monday’s press conference focused more on efforts to stabilize employment.
    — Evelyn Cheng,Anniek Bao, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2025
Definition of employment
Noun
  • The bill would apply to Tennessee's more than 900,000 public school students, requiring documentation of citizenship or legal residency to attend school.
    — Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 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
  • Harry, who was honored at the 2024 event for his work as an Apache helicopter pilot in Afghanistan during his 10 years in the military, joined Morgan Freeman and others in celebrating the aerial firefighters involved with the wildfires that devastated Los Angeles in January.
    — Stephanie Petit, People.com, 26 Apr. 2025
  • His work involved securing software using AI to find and close any loopholes where someone could exploit a vulnerability in the code.
    — Matt Emma, USA Today, 26 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 2 May. 2025.

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