Work and business / A2

pr-uh-FESHUN/prəˈfeʃn/

A profession is a type of job that needs special training: the teaching profession, join a profession, the medical profession. Job is the everyday word for any work; career is the path over years; occupation is a form-filling word. Professional is the adjective: professional advice. Do not call every job a profession — stacking shelves is a job, not usually a profession.

Meaning

A type of job that needs special training, such as teaching or medicine.

Examples

• “Teaching is a difficult but rewarding profession.”
• “Law is a well-paid profession in many countries.”
• “She entered the nursing profession at twenty-two.”

Good to know

a / the … profession. Adjective: professional. Contrast: job (any work), career (over years).

Near in meaning

career

Topics

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