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Definition of profession - 4 dictionary results

pro⋅fes⋅sion

  [pruh-fesh-uhn]
Use profession in a Sentence
–noun
1. a vocation requiring knowledge of some department of learning or science: the profession of teaching. Compare learned profession.
2. any vocation or business.
3. the body of persons engaged in an occupation or calling: to be respected by the medical profession.
4. the act of professing; avowal; a declaration, whether true or false: professions of dedication.
5. the declaration of belief in or acceptance of religion or a faith: the profession of Christianity.
6. a religion or faith professed.
7. the declaration made on entering into membership of a church or religious order.
Origin:
1175–1225; ME < ML professiōn- (s. of professiō) the taking of the vows of a religious order. See professed, -ion

Related forms:
pro⋅fes⋅sion⋅less, noun

Synonyms:
1. calling, employment. See occupation. 4. asseveration, assertion, protestation.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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pro·fes·sion   (prə-fěsh'ən)   
n.  

    1. An occupation or career: "One of the highest compliments a child can pay a parent is to choose his or her profession" (Joan Nathan).

    2. An occupation, such as law, medicine, or engineering, that requires considerable training and specialized study.

    3. The body of qualified persons in an occupation or field: members of the teaching profession.

  2. An act or instance of professing; a declaration.

  3. An avowal of faith or belief.

  4. A faith or belief: believers of various professions.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

profession 
c.1225, "vows taken upon entering a religious order," from O.Fr. profession, from L. professionem (nom. professio) "public declaration," from professus (see profess). Meaning "occupation one professes to be skilled in" is from 1541; meaning "body of persons engaged in some occupation" is from 1610; as a euphemism for "prostitution" (e.g. oldest profession) it is recorded from 1888. Professional (adj.) is first recorded 1747 with sense of "pertaining to a profession;" 1884 as opposite of amateur. As a noun, it is attested from 1811. Professionalism is from 1856.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: pro·fes·sion
Pronunciation: pr&-'fesh-&n
Function: noun
1 : a calling requiring specialized knowledge and oftenlong and intensive academic preparation
2 : the whole body of persons engaged in a calling
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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