# vocation

/voʊˈkeɪʃən/ (US) · /vəʊkˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/vocation
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. a life's work

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a job or career that you feel you were born to do, usually because it helps people or serves a purpose.

For teachers: a strong inclination toward a particular state or course of action, especially a specific career path that involves service to others.

- Nursing is more than just a job for her; it is a true vocation.
- Many young people struggle to find their vocation in a modern economy that prioritizes immediate financial gain over personal fulfillment.

Usage: Often used with the verbs 'find', 'follow', or 'have'.

### 2. religious calling

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

a strong feeling that God is calling you to become a priest, monk, or nun.

For teachers: a divine call to a religious life, specifically within the context of holy orders or a religious community.

- He entered the monastery after feeling a deep vocation to serve the church.
- The bishop spoke to the students about the importance of listening for a vocation in an increasingly secular world.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrase 'a vocation to the priesthood'.

### 3. trade or profession

noun · CEFR B2

a person's main job or the work they are trained to do.

For teachers: the work in which a person is regularly employed; a trade or profession.

- The school provides training for students entering a technical vocation like carpentry.
- The government increased funding for vocational training to ensure workers had the skills required for industrial roles.

Usage: Frequently appears as the adjective 'vocational' in educational contexts.

## Examples

- She felt a strong vocation to become a nurse.
- Many people choose social work not for the salary, but because they feel a genuine vocation to help the vulnerable.
- The transition from a stable corporate career to the priesthood represented the culmination of a lifelong vocation he had previously suppressed in favor of financial security.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.