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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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.
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
“He really pulled it all together. He kind of took it from an avocation to a profession and set the stage for everything that came after that,” former NFL referee Ed Hochuli said.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 2, 2022
But as "A Guide to the Labyrinth" so powerfully demonstrates, he was increasingly besotted by the language of poetry, an avocation he had pursued since his early teen years.
From Salon • Dec. 11, 2021
Looking at God’s wondrous handiwork was a worthwhile avocation, and in some cases, vocation.
From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman
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.
