occupation
nouncommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˌɒkjʊˈpeɪʃən//
- United Kingdom//ˌɒkjəˈpeɪʃən//
- United States//ˌɑkjʊˈpeɪʃən//
- United States//ˌɑkjəˈpeɪʃən//
An activity or task with which one occupies oneself; usually specifically the productive activity, service, trade, or craft for which one is regularly paid; a job.
noun
- 1
An activity or task with which one occupies oneself; usually specifically the productive activity, service, trade, or craft for which one is regularly paid; a job.
With no particular appearance of regret Annesley Greatorex detached himself from the occupation of typing letters and came across to his employer's chair.
- 2
The act, process or state of possessing a place.
Last year it was announced that electrification of L.M.R. main lines was to be speeded up and that it would be essential for the engineers to have the longest possible occupation of the lines involved; this would mean some retrenchment of passenger train services.
- 3
The control of a nation or region by a hostile military or paramilitary force.
The early years of Norman occupation saw a frenzy of castle building.
The lawyer and twice-divorced mother of three had presented herself as the modern face of her party, trying to strip it of unsavoury overtones after her father's convictions for saying the Nazi occupation of France was not "particularly inhumane".
Etymology
From Middle English occupacioun, borrowed from Middle French occupacion, occupation, from Latin occupātiō, occupātiōnis, from occupō (“occupy, seize”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kap- (“to seize, grab”). By surface analysis, occupy + -ation.
Forms
- plural
- occupations
occupation · An activity or task with which one occupies oneself; usually specifically the productive activity, service, trade, or craft for which one is…
occupational · Of, belonging, or relating to an occupation (in any sense).occupied · Reserved; engaged.occupy · To take or use. To fill.