profession

noun

pro·​fes·​sion prə-ˈfe-shən 

1

a

: a principal calling, vocation, or employment

b

: the whole body of persons engaged in a calling

c

: a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation

2

: an act of openly declaring or publicly claiming a belief, faith, or opinion : protestation

3

: the act of taking the vows of a religious community

4

: an avowed religious faith

Synonyms

• affirmation
• assertion
• asseveration
• avouchment
• avowal
• claim
• declaration
• insistence
• protestation

Examples of profession in a Sentence

The doctor talked to students who are thinking about entering the profession.

Most professions in the medical field require years of training.

Their daughter recently became a member of the medical profession.

Recent Examples on the Web

Coursera, a national online course provider in the U.S., and other companies that provide online classes are available to people who want to gain those skills and can help people enter the profession without a college degree. —Kayla Jimenez, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024

The Producers Guild Awards honors excellence in motion picture, TV and emerging-media productions as well as people shaping the producing profession. —Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 10 Dec. 2024

At Carnegie, Dohr, a legend in the profession, squelched a note or two, and the veteran oboe-and-clarinet team of Albrecht Mayer and Wenzel Fuchs fell momentarily out of synch in the Adagio. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024

Karen Grant, president of the New Jersey Association of School Librarians, praised the bill for recognizing the profession's integrity and for promoting intellectual freedom. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English professioun, from Anglo-French profession, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin profession-, professio, from Latin, public declaration, from profitēri

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing profession

• oldest profession
• the oldest profession
• the oldest profession in the world
• the world's oldest profession
• world's oldest profession

Kids Definition

profession

noun

pro·​fes·​sion prə-ˈfesh-ən 

1

: the act of taking the vows of a religious community

2

: a public declaring or claiming (as of a belief, faith, or opinion)

3

a

: an occupation (as medicine, law, or teaching) that requires specialized knowledge and often advanced education

b

: a principal occupation or employment

c

: the people working in a profession

the legal profession

Medical Definition

profession

noun

pro·​fes·​sion prə-ˈfesh-ən 

1

: a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation

2

: the whole body of persons engaged in a calling