Definitions
01professional life
A2 · Elementary Countable noun
n. the series of jobs you have or the work you do during your life, especially in one area.
n. the progress and actions of a person through a particular profession or occupation over a significant period.
“She spent her entire career working as a nurse in the same hospital.”
“After a successful career in corporate law, he decided to transition into the non-profit sector to focus on environmental advocacy.”
Synonyms
02professional
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. describing someone who does something as their main job, often for a long time.
adj. pursuing a specific activity as a permanent calling or professional life path; often used for non-traditional roles.
“The police finally caught the career criminal after a long investigation.”
“She was a career diplomat who had served in over a dozen countries before being appointed as the ambassador.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Confusables
Career is the total path of a person's working life, while profession is a specific occupation requiring advanced training or credentials.
RememberCareer is your journey; profession is your title.
Etymology
Mid 16th century, from French carrière (“road; racecourse”), from Italian carriera, from Old Occitan carreira, from Late Latin carrāria based on Latin carrus (“wheeled vehicle”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ḱr̥sós, from ḱers- (“to run”); alternatively, from Middle French carriere, from Old Occitan.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Idioms
01. make a career of
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/career
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0