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avocation
Use
Avocation
in a sentence
av·o·ca·tion
/
ˌæv
əˈkeɪ
ʃən
/
Show Spelled
[
av-
uh
-
key
-sh
uh
n
]
Show IPA
noun
1.
something a person does in addition to a principal occupation, especially for pleasure; hobby:
Our doctor's avocation is painting.
2.
a person's regular occupation, calling, or vocation.
3.
Archaic.
diversion or distraction.
Origin:
1520–30;
<
Latin
āvocātiōn-
(stem of
āvocātiō
) a calling away. See
a-
4
,
vocation
Related forms
av·o·ca·tion·al,
adjective
av·o·ca·tion·al·ly,
adverb
Can be confused:
1.
avocation,
vocation
;
2.
avocation,
evocation
.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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avocation
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What Is Avocations?
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Collins
World English Dictionary
avocation
(ˌævəˈkeɪʃən)
—
n
1.
formal
a minor occupation undertaken as a diversion
2.
not standard
a person's regular job or vocation
[C17: from Latin
āvocātiō
a calling away, diversion from, from
āvocāre
to distract, from
vocāre
to call]
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
avocation
1520s, "a calling away from one's occupation," from L. avocationem (nom. avocatio) "a calling away," pp. of avocare, from ab- "off, away from" + vocare "to call" (see
voice
).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Example sentences
My husband was a carpenter, too, although it was an
avocation
and not his work.
At the time, basketball was an
avocation
, not a vocation.
He knew he was a dedicated pothead-an
avocation
that had devolved into a nasty
coke habit.
By
avocation
, he is a pioneer, from a family of noted scientific adventurers.
Treasure hunting is not an
avocation
without peril.
Jim is an aeronautical engineer by training and father of two wonderful sons by
avocation
.
Henceforth covert action would be only an
avocation
.
Energy conservation isn't just a project, but a lifelong
avocation
.
Where painting had been an
avocation
, here is became my vocation.
There is no industry, profession or
avocation
which does not rely on the internet to gather or distribute data, or both.
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Synonyms
recreation
occupation
amusement
diversion
pastime
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