Meaning & use
noble profession
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phraseformalapproving
A way of describing a job, especially teaching, medicine, or law, as morally worthy and dedicated to helping others.
Grammar: Usually used with 'the' and often followed by 'of' plus the field: the noble profession of medicine.
Patterns
- the noble profession of something
- a noble profession
She often calls teaching the noble profession, because it shapes every other career.
In his speech he thanked the nurses and called medicine a noble profession.
Many people once saw the law as a noble profession rather than just a well-paid one.
phrasefixed phrasehumorousdisapproving
Used with mild irony about a job that people claim is honorable but that has clear faults.
Grammar: The ironic use still takes 'the' and sounds the same in speech; only the tone shows the difference.
Patterns
- the noble profession of something
Ah yes, politics — that noble profession we all admire so much.
He described advertising as his noble profession, and everyone at the table laughed.
Common combinations
- call something a noble profession
- Teachers were once called members of a noble profession.
- the noble profession of medicine
- Her grandfather spoke proudly of the noble profession of medicine.
- join a noble profession
- He decided to join a noble profession and train as a nurse.
- a truly noble profession
- Farming is a truly noble profession in many rural communities.
Synonyms and how they differ
- honorable calling
- Stronger and more religious in tone; 'noble profession' is the more common everyday phrase.
- vocation
- Emphasizes a personal sense of duty rather than public respect, and it is a single noun, not a phrase.
Word family
Commonly confused: noble profession or nobleman?
noble profession vs nobleman
A nobleman is an actual titled aristocrat, while 'noble profession' has nothing to do with social class.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'noble profession' most naturally?
Choose one answer.
'Noble profession' is a fixed phrase praising a kind of work, so 'described nursing as a noble profession' fits. Option A confuses it with a titled person, and option C wrongly uses it as a countable label for one individual.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “noble profession”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.