avocation
avocation — noun
- avocationsingular
- avocationsplural
1. a regular activity that someone does entirely for enjoyment in their free time,
a regular activity that someone does entirely for enjoyment in their free time, separate from the work that earns them a living
Dr. Kojo Okafor is a surgeon by trade, but his true avocation is restoring vintage motorcycles.
contrast: profession vs avocation in one sentence
The night-shift nurse turned her avocation for nature photography into a small weekend business.
turn + avocation + into + [outcome]
For the Watanabe family, gardening together has become a shared avocation that strengthens their bond.
Even as a busy accountant, Sofia makes time for her avocation of painting watercolor landscapes.
The retired librarian finds deep satisfaction in her avocation of tutoring at the community center.
- hobby
less formal and broader; a hobby can be any leisure activity, while an avocation is typically pursued with serious commitment alongside a career
- pastime
more casual and often suggests something done to pass time rather than with deep dedication
- sideline
can imply earning extra money from the activity, whereas avocation is always for enjoyment
- vocation
one's main paid occupation or career calling
- profession
the paid job that stands in contrast to an avocation
文法句型
have an avocation
pursue something as an avocation
用法筆記
Frequently contrasted with one's 'vocation' (paid career) to emphasize that the activity is chosen purely for pleasure. The word is more formal and less common in everyday conversation than 'hobby' — use 'hobby' for casual or trivial interests, and 'avocation' for a serious, committed pursuit.