Meaning & use
occupations
Last updated
“occupations” is a form of “occupation”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplural
Jobs or professions that people do to earn a living.
Grammar: Always plural in this sense; the singular is 'occupation'. Often used in formal contexts like forms or surveys.
Patterns
- list of occupations
- various occupations
- people in different occupations
The survey asked about the occupations of all adults in the household.
Nursing and teaching are among the most trusted occupations.
People in manual occupations often face greater health risks.
nounpluralformal
Activities that people do regularly, especially for enjoyment or to pass the time.
Grammar: Often used in formal or literary contexts; can be replaced by 'pastimes' or 'hobbies' in everyday speech.
Patterns
- leisure occupations
- favorite occupations
- daily occupations
Reading and gardening were her favorite occupations.
The residents were asked about their daily occupations.
His leisure occupations include painting and hiking.
Word forms
| singular | occupation |
|---|
Common combinations
- list of occupations
- The form asks you to choose from a list of occupations.
- various occupations
- The festival attracts people from various occupations.
- manual occupations
- Manual occupations often require physical strength.
- leisure occupations
- Painting and reading are popular leisure occupations.
Synonyms and how they differ
- jobs
- More informal and specific to paid work; 'occupations' is broader and more formal.
- professions
- Usually refers to jobs requiring special training, like law or medicine.
- pastimes
- Used for activities done for enjoyment, not for work.
Word family
- occupation noun
- Singular form; a job or profession.
- occupational adjective
- Relating to a job or profession.
- occupy verb
- To fill or use a space, time, or position.
Commonly confused: occupations or occupation?
occupations vs occupation
Remember that 'occupations' is plural; use 'occupation' for one job.
Practice
The census form asks for the ______ of all household members.
Choose one answer.
The sentence refers to the jobs of multiple people, so the plural 'occupations' is correct. 'Occupation' is singular and would not agree with 'all household members'. 'Occupied' is a verb or adjective, and 'occupational' is an adjective.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “occupations”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.