Work and business / B2

ok-yoo-PAYSHUN/ˌɒkjuˈpeɪʃn/

Occupation is a job or profession on forms: state your occupation. It is also military control of a place (the occupation of the city) or living in a building (occupation of the flat). Job is everyday; career is longer-term. Occupy is the verb. In speech, job is enough for the work sense. Keep the job sense and the military sense apart, and do not use occupation for a hobby (that is a pastime).

Meaning

A job or profession; also the act of living in or taking control of a place.

Examples

• “Please state your occupation on the form.”
• “Write “unemployed” if you have no occupation at the moment, not a blank.”
• “The occupation of the square lasted ten days, which is the protest/military-control sense.”

Good to know

state your occupation (forms). Everyday: job. Verb: occupy. Also: control of a place / living in a building. Not a hobby.

Near in meaning

job

Topics

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