occupational

adjective

oc·​cu·​pa·​tion·​al ˌä-kyə-ˈpā-sh(ə-)nəl 

1

: of or relating to a job or occupation

occupational choices

occupational training/skills

occupational safety

Physiatrists commonly treat back and neck pain and other musculoskeletal problems, including sports injuries and occupational problems like repetitive stress injury.

—C. Claiborne Ray

2

: relating to or engaged in the military occupation of a country

served as part of an occupational force

occupational troops

occupationally adverb

Examples of occupational in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 17 occupational suicides by federal workers in 2023, the latest available data. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025

Bence is an occupational therapist with a range of work experience in mental healthcare settings. —Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 19 Mar. 2025

Andrea McElroy, 55, a businesswoman and parent, and Kristin Walsh, 53, a parent and occupational therapist, are both running to fill the remaining term of the Trustee Area 5 seat left vacated when former board trustee Michelle Barto was elected to the Newport Beach City Council in November. —Erika I. Ritchie, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2025

Published: Mar 16, 2025 Dana Solomon from Yoga Journal Dana Solomon has been a pelvic health occupational therapist for the past nine years. —Dana Solomon, Outside Online, 16 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

occupation + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1766, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing occupational

• occupational hazard
• occupational therapy

Rhymes for occupational

• aspirational
• avocational
• calculational
• combinational
• computational
• conformational
• confrontational
• congregational
• conversational
• correlational
• deformational
• derivational

Kids Definition

occupational

adjective

oc·​cu·​pa·​tion·​al

ˌäk-yə-ˈpā-shnəl,

-shən-ᵊl

: of or relating to one's occupation

a report on occupational health and safety

occupationally

-ē

adverb

Medical Definition

occupational

adjective

oc·​cu·​pa·​tion·​al ˌäk-yə-ˈpā-shnəl, -shən-ᵊl 

: relating to or being an occupational disease

occupational asthma

occupationally

-ē 

adverb