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Avocation vs Occupation - What's the difference?

avocation | occupation | Related terms |

As nouns the difference between avocation and occupation

is that avocation is a calling away; a diversion while occupation is 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.

avocation

Noun

(en noun)
  • (obsolete) A calling away; a diversion.
  • * 1749 , Henry Fielding, Tom Jones , Folio Society 1973, p. 204:
  • But though she could neither sleep nor rest in her bed, yet, having no avocation from it, she was found there by her father at his return from Allworthy's, which was not till past ten o'clock in the morning.
  • A hobby or recreational or leisure pursuit.
  • * 1934 , Robert Frost, Two Tramps in Mud Time
  • *:But yield who will to their separation,
  • *:My object in living is to unite
  • *:My avocation and my vocation
  • *:As my two eyes make one in sight.
  • That which calls one away from one's regular employment or vocation.
  • Pursuits; duties; affairs which occupy one's time; usual employment; vocation.
  • See also

    * volunteerism

    occupation

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • 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.
  • The act, process or state of possessing a place.
  • The control of a country or region by a hostile army.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2012 , date=April 23 , author=Angelique Chrisafis , title=François Hollande on top but far right scores record result in French election , work=the Guardian citation , page= , passage=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".}}

    Synonyms

    * (activity with which one occupies oneself) profession, vocation, interest, employment