n. 1. A regular occupation, especially one for which a person is particularly suited or qualified. 2. a. An inclination or aptness for a certain kind of work: a vocation for medicine. b. Theology A calling of an individual by God, especially for a religious career. [Middle English vocacioun, divine call to a religious life, from Old French vocation, from Latin vocātiō, vocātiōn-, a calling, from vocātus, past participle of vocāre, to call; see wekw- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.