English

profession

gb/pɹəfˈɛʃən/ us/pɹəfˈɛʃən/
B1 English
~ 2300
Senses
0 senses
Noun B1 entity
1

a skilled paid occupation

A kind of job that needs special training or education.

Usage pattern: [someone]'s profession
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'profession' with 'job'. A 'profession' usually requires training and formal qualifications, while a 'job' can be any paid work.
Synonyms
occupation (More general; can refer to any job, not necessarily requiring special training) | career (Emphasizes long-term progression in a chosen field)
Antonyms
hobby (An activity done for pleasure and not for pay)
Collocations
enter a profession |choose a profession |medical profession |teaching profession |professional standards
Themes
work |education |business
Examples
  • She entered the legal profession after graduating from law school.
  • Teaching is a rewarding profession.
  • The medical profession has been under great pressure during the pandemic.
  • He chose engineering as his profession.
  • Many professions require continuing education.
Learner examples
  • My father works in the teaching profession.
  • She wants to join the medical profession.
  • Being a doctor is a difficult profession.
  • Law is his profession.
  • I want a profession that helps people.
Noun formal B2 action
2

a public statement of belief or intent

An open and clear statement about what you believe or plan to do.

Usage pattern: profession of [belief/faith/love]
Synonyms
declaration (Neutral; applies to any formal announcement) | avowal (Formal and often emotional statement of belief)
Antonyms
denial (A statement that something is not true or that you do not believe it)
Collocations
profession of faith |profession of love |public profession
Themes
communication |religion |core_vocabulary
Examples
  • His sudden profession of love surprised her.
  • The ceremony included a public profession of faith.
  • Despite his profession of loyalty, he betrayed the cause.
  • She made a heartfelt profession of support for the policy.
  • The politician's profession of honesty was met with skepticism.
Learner examples
  • He made a public profession of love.
  • The man gave a profession of faith at church.
  • Her profession of friendship was sincere.
  • They listened to his profession of loyalty.
  • I do not believe his profession of kindness.
Grammar
Dictionary form
profession
IPA
GB/pɹəfˈɛʃən/
US/pɹəfˈɛʃən/
Syllables & stress
pro - fes - sion (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (fes)
Word forms
Noun
  • Base: profession
  • Plural: profession, professions
Word family
Forms
professions noun
Core family
professional adjective B1 professionally adverb B1
Related words
professionalism noun B2
Negative and opposite forms
unprofessional adjective unprofessionally adverb amateur noun B1
Advanced or less common
professionalize verb professionalization noun
Expressions

enter a profession

1
/ˈɛntɚ ə pɹəfˈɛʃən/
fixed phrase

start working in a skilled job field

To start doing a type of skilled job that needs training or education.

Examples
  • After years of study, she entered the medical profession.
  • He plans to enter the teaching profession next year.

profession of faith

1
/pɹəfˈɛʃən əv fˈeɪθ/
fixed phrase formal

formal statement of religious belief

A formal and public saying that you believe in a religion.

Examples
  • The priest led the congregation in a profession of faith.
  • He made his profession of faith before being baptized.

the medical profession

1
/ðə mˈɛdɪkəl pɹəfˈɛʃən/
fixed phrase

group of people working in medicine

All doctors and other people who work in medicine as their job.

Examples
  • The medical profession has called for more funding for hospitals.
  • The conference brought together members of the medical profession.

Welcome back!

Please sign in to continue

Forgot password?
Don't have an account? Sign up