ˌäkyəˈpāshən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English occupacioun, from Middle French occupation, from Latin occupation-, occupatio, from occupatus (past participle of occupare to take possession of, occupy, employ) + -ion-, -io -ion — more at occupy
1.
a. : an activity in which one engages : a way of passing the time
declared she had always plenty of occupation for herself while he was away — William Black
bathing or loafing on the beaches are obviously a major occupation hereabouts — Ann Panners
b. : the principal business of one's life : a craft, trade, profession or other means of earning a living : employment , vocation
his occupation is farming
has gone from one occupation to another without settling down to any
writing has been his occupation for many years
2. : the function or use of something
if the occupation of steamboats be a matter of such general notoriety — John Marshall
it is … the great occupation of the graphic arts to give us first of all order and variety in the sensuous plane — Roger Fry
3.
a. : the actual possession and use of real estate (as by lease) : occupancy , tenancy
this fairly old house … was otherwise in doctors' and dentists' occupation — Elizabeth Bowen
the last of the historic private houses in the metropolis … still in the occupation of its hereditary owner — Sydney (Australia) Bulletin
b. : the possession or settlement of a place or area : tenure
many relics of this early Indian occupation have been found — American Guide Series: New Hampshire
from this section westward evidences of ancient human occupation are many — American Guide Series: Texas
c. : the holding of an office or position
it is only … the occupation … of two offices at the same time that offends public policy — W.D.Miller
d. Britain : land held by a tenant : holding
4. : the act or process of occupying or taking possession of a place or area : seizure
the fate of New Spain depended on forestalling England's occupation of that waterway — R.A.Billington
5.
a. : the usually temporary holding and control of a country or a part of a country by a foreign military force
their occupation of the divided capital city — Current Biography
b. often capitalized : the military force occupying a country or the policies carried out by such a force
the broad program of the occupation was being carried out without disturbance — Collier's Year Book
the Occupation removed this requirement in order to decrease the sense of regimentation — Hugh & Mabel Smythe
Synonyms: see work