occupation Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
    job; line; line of work; business.
    • he's not in my line of business
  2. noun the control of a country by military forces of a foreign power
    military control.
  3. noun any activity that occupies a person's attention
    • he missed the bell in his occupation with the computer game
  4. noun the act of occupying or taking possession of a building
    moving in; occupancy.
    • occupation of a building without a certificate of occupancy is illegal
  5. noun the period of time during which a place or position or nation is occupied
    • during the German occupation of Paris

WordNet

Oc`cu*pa"tion noun
Etymology
L. occupatio: cf.F. occupation.
Definitions
  1. The act or process of occupying or taking possession; actual possession and control; the state of being occupied; a holding or keeping; tenure; use; as, the occupation of lands by a tenant.
  2. That which occupies or engages the time and attention; the principal business of one's life; vocation; employment; calling; trade.
    Absence of occupation is not rest. Cowper.
    Syn. -- Occupancy; possession; tenure; use; employment; avocation; engagement; vocation; calling; office; trade; profession.

Webster 1913