B2noun 2K

Occupation

🇬🇧 UK /["/ˌɒkjuˈpeɪʃn/"]/ 🇺🇸 US /["/ˌɑːkjuˈpeɪʃn/"]/

Meaning of Occupation

a job or profession

In simple words: What job someone does.

Occupation in a sentence

• His occupation as a teacher kept him busy throughout the school year.
• She changed her occupation from law to graphic design last year.
• The occupation of the territory by foreign troops caused unrest.
• During the war, the occupation of the city lasted several months.
• Many surveys ask about your current occupation to understand job trends.
• The occupation forces imposed curfews and strict regulations on the local people.
• He chose a dangerous occupation that required a lot of physical work.
• The occupation of the factory by striking workers halted production.

How to use Occupation

Used in both formal and casual contexts. More common in writing than speech. In informal settings, you might use 'job' instead.

Grammar pattern

occupation + of + person

Memory hint

Sounds like 'occupy'— imagine someone busy doing their job.

Related words

Collocations with Occupation

• full-time
• current
• main
• choose
• find
• follow
• list somebody’s occupation as something
• a range of occupations
• foreign
• continued
• continuing
• begin
• end
• maintain
• begin
• end
• continue
• force
• during the occupation
• under occupation
• occupation of
• land
• illegal
• unlawful
• take up
• in occupation of
• ready for occupation

Synonyms for Occupation

• profession
• career
• job
• trade
• vocation

Opposites of Occupation

• unemployment
• leisure

Common mistakes with Occupation

• Confused with 'job' – 'occupation' is often more formal.
• Using 'occupation' when referring to a temporary position.
• Mixing up with 'hobby' – an occupation is not the same as a leisure activity.

Frequently asked questions about Occupation

What does Occupation mean?

What job someone does.

What is the definition of Occupation?

a job or profession

How do you use Occupation in a sentence?

His occupation as a teacher kept him busy throughout the school year.

Can you give another example of Occupation?

She changed her occupation from law to graphic design last year.

What are synonyms for Occupation?

Common alternatives include profession, career, job, trade, vocation.

What is the opposite of Occupation?

Opposite meanings include unemployment, leisure.

What words go with Occupation?

It commonly pairs with full-time, current, main, choose, find, follow, list somebody’s occupation as something, a range of occupations, foreign, continued, continuing, begin, end, maintain, begin, end, continue, force, during the occupation, under occupation, occupation of, land, illegal, unlawful, take up, in occupation of, ready for occupation.

What are common mistakes when using Occupation?

Confused with 'job' – 'occupation' is often more formal. Using 'occupation' when referring to a temporary position. Mixing up with 'hobby' – an occupation is not the same as a leisure activity.

How do you pronounce Occupation?

US: /["/ˌɑːkjuˈpeɪʃn/"]/, UK: /["/ˌɒkjuˈpeɪʃn/"]/. Listen to the audio above to hear native pronunciation.

When should I use Occupation?

Used in both formal and casual contexts. More common in writing than speech. In informal settings, you might use 'job' instead.

What CEFR level is Occupation?

"Occupation" is at B2 level on the CEFR scale.