pro ‧ fes ‧ sion W3 /prəˈfeʃ ə n/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ profession , ↑ professional , ↑ professionalism ; adverb : ↑ professionally , ↑ unprofessionally ; adjective : ↑ professional ≠ ↑ unprofessional ]
1 . [countable] a job that needs a high level of education and training
the legal/medical/teaching etc profession
members of the teaching profession
enter/go into/join a profession
Some students enter other professions such as arts administration.
people who work in the professions (=doctors, lawyers etc)
by profession
Johnson was a barrister by profession.
nurses, social workers, and other people in the caring professions (=ones that involve looking after people)
2 . [ singular, also + plural verb British English ] all the people who work in a particular profession:
the medical profession
3 . [countable] formal a statement of your belief, opinion, or feeling
profession of
a profession of faith
4 . the oldest profession the job of being a ↑ prostitute – used humorously
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meanings 1 & 2)
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + profession
▪ the legal profession
He followed his father into the legal profession.
▪ the medical profession
The medical profession is still divided about the main cause of heart attacks.
▪ the teaching profession
There are not enough physicists entering the teaching profession.
▪ the accountancy/accounting profession
Many economics graduates enter the accountancy profession.
▪ the nursing profession
Mary had retired from the nursing profession.
▪ the caring professions (=ones that involve looking after people)
A high proportion of people in the caring professions are women.
■ verbs
▪ enter/go into/join a profession
Hugh intended to enter the medical profession.
▪ leave a profession
Why do you want to leave the profession?
■ phrases
▪ a member of a profession
Some members of the medical profession supported the use of these drugs.
▪ reach/be at the top of your profession
He was a very highly respected man, at the top of his profession.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ job noun [countable] the regular paid work that you do for an employer:
a full-time job
|
John got a job in a car factory.
▪ work noun [uncountable] activities that you are paid for doing – used either when you work for an employer or when you work in your own business:
I started work when I was 18.
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He graduated from college last year and is still looking for work.
▪ profession noun [countable] a job for which you need special education and training:
There are now a lot more women in the legal profession.
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Many teachers are leaving the profession.
▪ occupation noun [countable] formal a job, or a type of job – often used on official documents:
Please give your name, age, and occupation.
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a traditionally male occupation
▪ career noun [countable] the work you do or plan to do for most of your life:
I’m interested in a career in journalism.
▪ position noun [countable] formal a particular job within an organization:
I am writing to apply for the position of technical assistant.
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We regret that the position has already been filled.
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Please state the position which you are applying for.
▪ post noun [countable] formal a job, especially an important one in a large organization:
She has held the post of managing director for two years.
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He applied for the post of Senior Manager.
▪ vacancy/opening noun [countable] a job that is available for someone to do:
The hospital has been unable to fill the vacancy.
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There are very few openings in scientific research.
▪ appointment noun [countable] an important job which someone is asked to do:
He took an appointment as US trade ambassador in Geneva.
▪ posting noun [countable] a situation in which someone is sent somewhere to do a job for a period of time by the organization they work for:
This was his first posting outside the UK.
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an overseas posting
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His next posting took him to the Ministry of Defence.
▪ trade noun [countable] a job that involves using your hands, and for which you need special training:
Most of the men had worked in skilled trades such as carpentry and printing.
▪ employment noun [uncountable] the fact of having a job:
The factory will provide employment for local people.
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She was offered employment in the sales office.