vocation

vocation — noun

1. A job or area of work that feels naturally right for you — one you are willing t

1.nounB2
Definition

A job or area of work that feels naturally right for you — one you are willing to give great effort to because it matters deeply to you.

Example

Teaching was not just a job for Élise — it was her true vocation.

collocation: true vocation

After years in business, Sayaka finally found her vocation as a children's doctor.

find + one's + vocation + as + [role]

Common collocations
  • true vocation
  • find one's vocation
  • sense of vocation
  • have a vocation for
  • feel a vocation
  • follow one's vocation
  • vocation as a [role]
Synonyms
  • calling

    More strongly associated with a sense of destiny or divine purpose; less common in everyday speech

  • mission

    Emphasises a sense of life purpose or social contribution; can sound more ambitious

  • profession

    Focuses on training and formal qualifications; lacks the emotional commitment of vocation

Antonyms
  • hobby

    A hobby is done for enjoyment in free time, not as serious work

  • pastime

    A pastime fills leisure hours, demanding little commitment

Grammar Patterns

find + one's + vocation

have + a + vocation + for + [work/role]

sense + of + vocation

Usage Note

Unlike job or career, vocation emphasises a strong personal feeling that the work is the right fit for you. Commonly used in phrases such as find one's vocation and sense of vocation.

Common Mistakes

I got a new vocation as a shop assistant last week.
I started a new job as a shop assistant last week.
Vocation describes work you feel deeply suited to over a long period, not any temporary job.
His vocation as an accountant paid the bills.
His job as an accountant paid the bills.
Use job for neutral, everyday work; use vocation only when the work feels personally meaningful.

2. A strong inner feeling, often based on religious belief, that you are called by

2.nounB2
Definition

A strong inner feeling, often based on religious belief, that you are called by God to serve in a religious role such as a priest, monk, or nun.

Example

At age thirty, Salma felt a vocation to become a Buddhist nun in Thailand.

collocation: vocation to become + [religious role]

The bishop recognised Christopher's sincere vocation to the priesthood during the retreat.

Common collocations
  • vocation to the priesthood
  • vocation to religious life
  • vocation to become a nun
  • vocation to become a monk
  • feel a vocation
  • religious vocation
  • true vocation
Synonyms
  • calling

    More common in everyday use; can be religious or non-religious

  • divine calling

    Explicitly states the source is God; more formal and solemn

Grammar Patterns

have + a + vocation + to + [religious role/group]

feel + a + vocation

Usage Note

This sense is most common in religious contexts. In everyday conversation, sense 1 (SUITABLE WORK) is much more frequent. Distinguish from sense 1: a RELIGIOUS CALLING specifically relates to serving God or a faith community.

Common Mistakes

She felt a vocation to become a lawyer.
She felt a calling to become a lawyer.
Vocation used for religious roles; calling is more acceptable for non-religious purposes.
He had a vocation for engineering.' (when meaning a religious calling)
He had a vocation to the priesthood.
Religious vocation typically takes to, not for.

3. The job that a person does to earn a living, especially one that requires specia

3.nounB1
Definition

The job that a person does to earn a living, especially one that requires special training or skills.

Example

Tanvi pursued a vocation in engineering after graduating from the technical university.

pursue + a + vocation + in + [field]

The survey asked each worker to state their current vocation and years of experience.

Common collocations
  • pursue a vocation in
  • choose a vocation
  • traditional vocation
  • demanding vocation
  • state one's vocation
Synonyms
  • occupation

    More neutral and bureaucratic; the most common word for a person's job on forms

  • profession

    Implies formal training, education, and a recognised status such as doctor or lawyer

  • career

    Emphasises progression over time rather than a single job

Antonyms
  • hobby

    A hobby is unpaid and done for enjoyment in free time

  • unemployment

    The state of having no job at all

Grammar Patterns

pursue + a + vocation + in + [field]

choose + a + vocation

state + one's + vocation

Usage Note

The most neutral of the three senses. While it overlaps with job or occupation, vocation often appears in formal written contexts such as surveys, legal documents, or career descriptions.

Common Mistakes

Playing video games is my vocation.
Playing video games is my hobby.
Vocation implies paid or serious work, not leisure.
Her vocation as a cashier lasted two months.
Her job as a cashier lasted two months.
Vocation (sense 3) is formal and usually describes a career or trained role, not a short-term position.

Word family

  • vocational
    adjectiveB2
  • vocationally
    adverbC1
  • avocation
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These three words overlap with vocation (sense 1) but differ in scope and connotation. Calling is the closest synonym, sharing vocation's sense of deep personal fit — though calling is slightly more informal and can apply to non-work roles (a calling to be a parent). Mission emphasises social or moral purpose: a doctor might see her work as a mission to heal the poor, which sounds more ambitious than simply having a vocation. Profession is more neutral and bureaucratic — it focuses on formal training and qualifications (law, medicine, accounting) without implying emotional commitment. For example: 'Nursing was her vocation' suggests it suited her nature; 'Nursing was her profession' states it factually; 'Nursing was her mission' frames it as a cause. Choose calling for everyday conversation about life purpose, profession for formal career talk, and mission when you want to highlight a strong sense of social contribution.

calling ↗mission ↗profession ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • sense of vocation
  • find one's vocation
  • have a vocation for
  • pursue a vocation in

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Vocation comes from Latin vocātiō, meaning 'a calling' or 'summons,' from the verb vocāre (to call). In early English it referred specifically to God calling someone to religious service. During the 1500s, the meaning broadened to include any job or profession a person felt naturally suited for — but the original idea of being 'called' still gives the word its sense of deep personal fit.