Profession

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /pɹəˈfɛʃən/

Origin

From Anglo-Norman professioun, Old French profession ("declaration of faith, religious vows, occupation"), from Latin professiō ("avowal, public declaration"), from the participle stem of profitērī ("to profess").

Full definition of profession

Noun

1. A promise or vow made on entering a religious order.She died only a few years after her profession.
• 1796, Matthew Lewis, The Monk, Folio Society 1985, p. 27:Rosario was a young novice belonging to the monastery, who in three months intended to make his profession.
2. A declaration of belief, faith or of one's opinion.Despite his continued professions of innocence, the court eventually sentenced him to five years.
3. An occupation, trade, craft, or activity in which one has a professed expertise in a particular area; a job, especially one requiring a high level of skill or training.My father was a barrister by profession.
4. The practitioners of such an occupation collectively.His conduct is against the established practices of the legal profession.

Derived terms

• professional
• liberal profession