Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Occupation has 6 different meanings across 1 category:
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
"he's not in my line of business"
the control of a country by military forces of a foreign power
"The recent treaty ended the decade-long occupation that had kept our ports closed to all trade."
any activity that occupies a person's attention
"he missed the bell in his occupation with the computer game"
the act of occupying or taking possession of a building
"occupation of a building without a certificate of occupancy is illegal"
the period of time during which a place or position or nation is occupied
"during the German occupation of Paris"
An activity or task with which one occupies oneself; usually specifically the productive activity, service, trade, or craft for which one is regularly paid; a job.
"She chose graphic design as her occupation after graduating from art school."
In plain English: An occupation is your regular job or what you do to earn money.
"Her main occupation is teaching local children."
Usage: Use "occupation" to refer to a person's regular job or profession, such as teaching or engineering. Avoid using it when you simply mean spending time doing an activity without pay, where "pastime" or "hobby" is more appropriate.
Occupation comes from the Middle French word for "seizing" or "taking possession," which was borrowed into English via Middle English. Its roots trace back to the Latin verb meaning to occupy or seize.