avocation

UK/ˌævəʊˈkeɪʃn/US/.ævәu'keiʃәn/

TOEFLGREC2

Definitions

A hobby or minor occupation pursued outside one's main job.

业余爱好；副业

Root Breakdown

Root-derived

a-away from, off

vocvoice, call

-ationact, process, state

=avocation

From Latin avocāre (ab- "away" + vocāre "call") = "to call away." An avocation is what calls you away from your main work — a side pursuit. It is the near-opposite of vocation (your true calling).

Root voc still carries 54 more words

Example Sentences

1.
Painting started as an avocation but became his livelihood.
2.
She is a lawyer by profession and a novelist by avocation.

Easily Confused

avocation vs vocation — one letter apart, near-opposites. vocation = your main calling/career. avocation = the hobby that calls you away from it. Remember the a- as "away."

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