avocation
Americannoun
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something a person does in addition to a principal occupation, especially for pleasure; hobby.
Our doctor's avocation is painting.
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a person's regular occupation, calling, or vocation.
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Archaic. diversion or distraction.
noun
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formal a minor occupation undertaken as a diversion
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not_standard a person's regular job or vocation
Other Word Forms
- avocational adjective
- avocationally adverb
Etymology
Origin of avocation
First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin āvocātiōn- (stem of āvocātiō ) “a calling away”; see a- 4, vocation
Explanation
An avocation is an activity that you pursue when you're not at work — a hobby. Pretty much anything can be an avocation: tennis, sudoku, writing poetry. If you're the journalist Clark Kent, your avocation is changing into a skintight red and blue jumpsuit and fighting crime. A vocation is the work you do because you have to; an avocation is what you do for pleasure, not pay. The ancient Latin root is a vocare a calling away from one's work, or a distraction. Today we use the word more to refer to a serious hobby. If you like knitting beautiful sweaters, then you, my friend, have an avocation — as long as you're not making your living from it.
Vocabulary lists containing avocation
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Can I Work It? Words for "Job"
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Words for the High School Graduate
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Many decades later, creating meals from scratch – not because I have to, but because I want to – is a cherished avocation.
From Salon • Jan. 30, 2026
His dialogue snaps, and he can riff on just about anything, including Joe’s avocation as a jazz pianist, with authority.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 8, 2024
While continuing to promote educational programs throughout his life, Pelé also pursued his musical avocation.
From New York Times • Dec. 29, 2022
And for many, it’s a fulfilling part-time avocation that lets them give back to their communities.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 25, 2022
When he was advised that he had no avocation, he left the island, came to America to study the then budding field of psychiatry.
From "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
