profession

Definitions

pro- (publicly) + fess (declare) + -ion (act of) = a public declaration. It first meant the solemn vow taken aloud when entering a religious order. From 'a publicly declared commitment' it became 'the calling you've declared yourself bound to' — which narrowed into today's sense: a skilled, regulated occupation like law or medicine.

Why It Means This

The leap from 'public declaration' to 'job' is the family's most surprising. In the Middle Ages, 'making profession' meant publicly vowing to enter a religious order. That sense of a solemn, declared, lifelong commitment carried over to secular callings — law, medicine, the clergy — which demanded both training and a public undertaking to serve. The original meaning survives intact in phrases like 'a profession of faith.'

Common Collocations

• 1.by profession就职业而言
• 2.the legal profession法律行业
• 3.the medical profession医疗行业
• 4.profession of faith信仰表白

Example Sentences

• 1.

  She left teaching to enter the legal profession.

• 2.

  Nursing is a demanding but rewarding profession.

• 3.

  His profession of love took her completely by surprise.

• 4.

  The medical profession has been slow to adopt the change.

Easily Confused

profession vs occupation vs career — A profession needs specialized training and usually formal qualification (doctor, lawyer). An occupation is any job you do, skilled or not (the broadest, most neutral). A career is your working life as a whole, the path over time. You can change occupations many times within one career; not every occupation counts as a profession.