occupation

noun

oc·​cu·​pa·​tion ˌä-kyə-ˈpā-shən How to pronounce occupation (audio)
1
a
: an activity in which one engages
Pursuing pleasure has been his major occupation.
b
: the principal business of one's life : vocation
Teaching was her occupation.
2
a
: the possession, use, or settlement of land : occupancy
the last of the historic private houses in the metropolis … still in the occupation of its hereditary ownerSidney (Australia) Bull.
b
: the holding of an office or position
it is only … the occupation … of two offices at the same time that offends public policyW. D. Miller
3
a
: the act or process of taking possession of a place or area : seizure
Spain's occupation of the island
b
: the holding and control of an area by a foreign military force
the Roman occupation of Britain
c
: the military force occupying a country or the policies carried out by it
The occupation addressed the concerns of the local population.
Choose the Right Synonym for occupation

work, employment, occupation, calling, pursuit, métier, business mean a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living.

work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not.

her work as a hospital volunteer

employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer.

your employment with this firm is hereby terminated

occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training.

his occupation as a trained auto mechanic

calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession.

the ministry seemed my true calling

pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest.

her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit

métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted.

acting was my one and only métier

business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs.

the business of managing a hotel

Examples of occupation in a Sentence

He is thinking about changing occupations and becoming a police officer. “What's your occupation?” “I'm a stay-at-home mom.” Swimming was their main occupation at summer camp. Some evidence of human occupation was found in these caves. The offices are ready for occupation.
Recent Examples on the Web Among the largest occupations for women, the most egregious pay gaps were among financial managers (women earned 71% of every dollar a man earns), retail salesperson (72%), education and child care administrators (79%), administrative assistants (80%) and managers (81%). Jeanne Sahadi, CNN, 12 Mar. 2024 That is especially true in white-collar professions like human resources and consulting, while those in occupations that require working in person — such as health care, construction and manufacturing — are more upbeat. Lydia Depillis, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Without cause Palestinians confront daily burdens under the decades-long Israeli occupation, Palestinian Americans told The Republic. Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2024 Matters became more complicated with the occupation of the Golan Heights – a former Syrian territory that borders Israel and Lebanon and was taken by Israeli forces during the 1967 Six-Day War. Mireille Rebeiz, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2024 Documents obtained by The Intercept indicate that Project Nimbus tools can be used for surveillance, an integral aspect of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories. Caroline Haskins, WIRED, 5 Mar. 2024 Although her parents had conventionally middle-class occupations—her mother was a school bursar, her father a businessman—her dad had the kind of unusual background that makes a writer salivate. Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 This study delineates 48 specific occupations expanding as a result of the Inflation Reduction Act, Infrastructure Act and CHIPS Act, including in electric vehicles, electricians, energy production, and road and building construction, to name a few. Joan Michelson, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Wulf’s church, Echo Park United Methodist Church on North Alvarado Street and Reservoir Street in northeast Los Angeles, is not currently safe for occupation. Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'occupation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English occupacioun "possession of land, engagement in an activity, vocation, concern," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French occupaciun, borrowed from Latin occupātiōn-, occupātiō "seizing possession, preoccupation," from occupāre "to grasp, take possession of, fill up (space, a position)" + -tiōn- -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at occupy

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of occupation was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near occupation

Cite this Entry

“Occupation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/occupation. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

occupation

noun
oc·​cu·​pa·​tion ˌäk-yə-ˈpā-shən How to pronounce occupation (audio)
1
: one's business or profession
2
: the taking possession and control of an area
occupation of a conquered country

More from Merriam-Webster on occupation

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