English Reference

Word

occupation

Phoneticsoc·cu·pa·tion, stress on the third syllable

US/ˌɑkjəˈpeɪʃən/

UK/ˌɒkjʊpˈeɪʃən/

Definitions

01a job

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Formal

n. the job or profession that you do to earn money.

n. a person's regular work or profession; the primary activity by which one earns a living.

“Please state your name, age, and occupation on the application form.”

“The census required every head of household to provide a detailed description of their primary occupation and any secondary sources of income.”

Pitfall

What is your occupation?

What do you do for a living?

'Occupation' is common on official forms, but in casual conversation, people usually ask 'What do you do?' instead.

02military control

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Law

n. a situation where an army moves into and takes control of another country.

n. the action of a military force taking control of a foreign territory or the period during which this control is maintained.

“The city remained under military occupation for several years after the war.”

“International law dictates specific responsibilities for a governing power during a period of hostile military occupation to protect the civilian population.”

03using a space

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal · Technical

n. the act of living in or using a building or a piece of land.

n. the act of entering into and taking possession of a property or location.

“The new office building is finally ready for occupation by the staff.”

“The certificate of occupancy was delayed because the building failed to meet the latest fire safety standards for commercial occupation.”

Antonyms

04a hobby

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Literary

n. an activity that you spend time doing, like a hobby.

n. an activity or pastime that keeps a person busy or engaged.

“Reading and gardening were her favourite occupations during the long summer.”

“In his retirement, he found that woodcarving was a pleasant occupation that kept his mind sharp and his hands busy.”

Antonyms

idlenessboredom

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “occupation” in context.

Verb

01. end the occupation

“The two nations signed a peace treaty to finally end the military occupation.”

verb + noun

02. state your occupation

“Please state your occupation and your current address on the application form.”

verb + noun

Adjective

03. gainful occupation

“The charity helps homeless people find gainful occupation and stable housing.”

adj + noun

04. illegal occupation

“The protesters were arrested for the illegal occupation of the government building.”

adj + noun

05. previous occupation

“Her previous occupation was in marketing, but she has now transitioned into teaching.”

adj + noun

Preposition

06. by occupation

“He is a carpenter by occupation, though he enjoys painting in his spare time.”

prep + noun

07. under occupation

“Life for the local citizens was extremely difficult while the city was under occupation.”

prep + noun

Real-World Examples

“This week Stanford University in the US flagged a decline in the employment of young workers in AI-exposed occupations such as software engineering and customer service.”
The Guardian 13 Aug 2026
“The report estimates that 6.1 per cent of jobs held by people aged 15 to 29 are in occupations highly exposed to AI-related changes .”
UN News 11 Aug 2026

Etymology

From Middle English occupacioun, borrowed from Middle French occupacion, occupation, from Latin occupātiō, occupātiōnis, from occupō (“occupy, seize”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kap- (“to seize, grab”). By surface analysis, occupy + -ation.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

Related words

Domain

Military

This entry

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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
Frequency
Common
Level
B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
Updated

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