Occupations: meaning, definitions and examples
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occupations
[ ˌɒkjʊˈpeɪʃənz ]
various
A person's regular work or profession; job or principal activity.
Synonyms
career, employment, job, profession, vocation
Examples of usage
- He was forced to give up his occupation of teaching.
- Fishing is the chief occupation of the village.
- Many people choose their occupation based on their interests.
- Her occupation as a nurse keeps her busy all day.
- The occupation of farming requires hard work and dedication.
military
The action, state, or period of occupying or being occupied by military force.
Synonyms
annexation, conquest, seizure, takeover
Examples of usage
- The country's occupation by enemy troops lasted for several years.
- The liberation of the city from foreign occupation was celebrated by the citizens.
Word origin
The word 'occupation' has its roots in Middle English, derived from the Old French word 'occupacion' and the Latin word 'occupationem', meaning 'a business, employment, occupation, trade'. The sense of 'occupation' as a military invasion and control dates back to the early 16th century. Over time, the term has evolved to encompass both one's profession or job as well as the military sense of being occupied by a foreign force.
See also: occupancy, occupation, occupied, occupying, preoccupied, preoccupy, underoccupancy, unoccupied.