profession

[ pruh-fesh-uhn ]

noun

1. a vocation requiring knowledge of some department of learning or science: Compare learned profession.

   the profession of teaching.

   Synonyms: employment, calling

2. any vocation or business.
3. the body of persons engaged in an occupation or calling:

   to be respected by the medical profession.

4. the act of professing; avowal; a declaration, whether true or false:

   professions of dedication.

   Synonyms: protestation, assertion, asseveration

5. the declaration of belief in or acceptance of religion or a faith:

   the profession of Christianity.

6. a religion or faith professed.
7. the declaration made on entering into membership of a church or religious order.

profession

/ prəˈfɛʃən /

noun

1. an occupation requiring special training in the liberal arts or sciences, esp one of the three learned professions, law, theology, or medicine
2. the body of people in such an occupation
3. the act of professing; avowal; declaration
4. 1. Also calledprofession of faith a declaration of faith in a religion, esp as made on entering the Church of that religion or an order belonging to it
   2. the faith or the religion that is the subject of such a declaration

Other Words From

• pro·fession·less noun
• nonpro·fession noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of profession¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Medieval Latin professiōn-, stem of professiō “the taking of the vows of a religious order,” from profess(us) “declared publicly” ( professed ) + -iō -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of profession¹

C13: from Medieval Latin professiō the taking of vows upon entering a religious order, from Latin: public acknowledgment; see profess

Synonym Study

See occupation.

Example Sentences

"We desperately need more people to join the profession, but the reality is nursing numbers are going in the wrong direction."

From BBC

Streeting said the health service would "need to work through with the medical profession what would be a very new way of working".

From BBC

Pauline Buchanan from the NEU said that teachers had found "themselves once again as the lowest paid members of the profession across these islands".

From BBC

Significant concerns remain, however, from some within the medical profession.

From BBC

Someone who really got into the medical profession for the right reasons but has now become so jaded that she’s on autopilot — she’s zooming toward retirement.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• art
• business
• career
• craft
• employment
• field
• line of work
• occupation
• pursuit
• role
• situation
• specialty
• undertaking