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Definition of profession noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

      

    profession

     noun
    noun
    NAmE//prəˈfɛʃn//
     
     
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  1. 1[countable] a type of job that needs special training or skill, especially one that needs a high level of education the medical/legal/teaching, etc. profession to enter/go into/join a profession He was an electrician by profession. She was at the very top of her profession. Thesauruswork
    • employment
    • career
    • profession
    • occupation
    • trade
    These are all words for the work that someone does in return for payment, especially over a long period of time.
    • work the job that someone does, especially in order to earn money:It's very difficult to find work at the moment. He's been out of work for months.
    • employment (somewhat formal) work, especially when it is done to earn money; the state of being employed or the situation in which people have work:The company has employment opportunities right now.
    • career the job or series of jobs that someone has in a particular area of work, usually involving more responsibility as time passes:She had a very distinguished career in medicine.
    • profession a type of job that needs special training or skill, especially one that needs a high level of education:He hopes to enter the medical profession. The profession is all the people who work in a particular profession:the legal profession. The professions is an old-fashioned term for the traditional jobs that need a high level of education and training, such as being a doctor or lawyer.
    • occupation (somewhat formal) a job or profession:Please state your name, age, and occupation.
    • trade a job, especially one that involves working with your hands and requires special training and skills:Carpentry is a highly skilled trade.
    Patterns
    • (a) full-time/part-time work/employment/career/occupation
    • permanent/temporary work/employment
    • (a) well-paid work/employment/profession/occupation
    • (a) low-paid work/employment/occupation
    • to look for/seek/find/have work/employment/a career/an occupation
    • to get/obtain/give somebody/offer somebody/create/generate/provide work/employment
    Topic CollocationsJobsgetting a job
    • look for work
    • look for/apply for/go for a job
    • get/pick up/complete/fill out an application (form)
    • send/e-mail your résumé/CV/application/application form/cover letter
    • be called for/have/attend an interview
    • offer somebody a job/work/employment/a promotion
    • find/get/land a job
    • employ/hire/recruit staff/workers/trainees
    • recruit/appoint a manager
    doing a job
    • arrive at/get to/leave work/the office/the factory
    • start/finish work/your shift
    • do/put in/work overtime
    • have/gain/get/lack/need experience/qualifications
    • do/get/have/receive training
    • learn/pick up/improve/develop (your) skills
    • cope with/manage/share/spread/delegate the workload
    • improve your/achieve a better work-life balance
    • have (no) job satisfaction/job security
    building a career
    • have a job/work/a career/a vocation
    • find/follow/pursue your vocation
    • enter/go into/join a profession
    • choose/embark on/start/begin/pursue a career
    • change jobs/professions/careers
    • be/go/work freelance
    • do/take on temp work/freelance work
    • do/be engaged in/be involved in volunteer work
    leaving your job
    • leave/quit/resign from your job
    • give up work/your job/your career
    • hand in your notice/resignation
    • plan to/be due to retire in June/next year, etc.
    • take early retirement
  2. 2the profession [singular] all the people who work in a particular type of profession The legal profession has always resisted change.
  3. 3the professions [plural] (old-fashioned) the traditional jobs that need a high level of education and training, such as being a doctor or a lawyer employment in industry and the professions
  4. 4[countable] profession of something a statement about what you believe, feel, or think about something, which is sometimes made publicly synonym declaration a profession of faith His professions of love did not seem sincere.
See profession in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary