occupation

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA ^(key): /ɑkjʊˈpeɪʃən/ or /ɑkjəˈpeɪʃən/
• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ɒkjʊˈpeɪʃən/ or /ɒkjəˈpeɪʃən/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

Singular occupation

Plural occupations

1. (countable) An occupation is a job or a career.
   • Synonyms: work, position and profession

   Nursing has been described as a skilled occupation rather than a profession.

2. (countable & uncountable) An occupation is when a people, especially an army, take over and stay in a country, area, building, etc.
   • Synonym: occupancy

   Everything he owned was taken during the German occupation of Paris in 1940.

   The areas under occupation contained rich farm lands as well as the industrialized sectors of Russian Poland.

   The house on the hill had no lights and no signs of occupation.

3. (countable) An occupation is a hobby or something else that you do to pass the time.
   • Synonym: pastime

   Her favorite occupation is reading.

Related words

• occupational
• occupationally