Synonyms for vocation
Most common
All synonyms
Noun
1. Calling
calling, profession, occupation, career, employment, business, pursuit, craft, trade, call dated
Other
Definitions
- n. 1
A divine calling to establish one's lifestyle.
The Catholic Church supports and teaches us that there are three vocations: the single life, married life, and the religious life or priesthood.
Related words
- Word family
- vocative
- Is a kind of
- job labour occupation work
Forms
- Plural
- vocations → callings, professions, occupations, careers…
Choose the right word
An avocation is what calls one away from other work; a vocation or calling, that to which one is called by some special fitness or sense of duty; thus, we speak of the gospel ministry as a vocation or calling, rather than a business.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- career She seems to devote all her effects to her career.
- employment He didn't give us his previous employment record.
- profession That's the most enjoyable aspect of my profession.
- pursuit The pursuit of money can sometimes lead to stress.
- mission My mission is to help people achieve their dreams.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| vocation | steady | |
| career | rising | |
| employment | falling | |
| profession | falling | |
| pursuit | rising | |
| mission | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- call1
- 5 letters
- trade1, craft1
- 6 letters
- career2
- 7 letters
- calling2, mission2, pursuit2
- 8 letters
- business2
- 10 letters
- employment3, occupation4, profession3
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (career2 = 2 syllables).