Vocation vs Avocation Quiz: Test Yourself
Five quick questions on vocation vs avocation. Pick an answer to get instant feedback.
Flip Cards: Quick Review
Hover over a card, or tap it on mobile, to see the meaning.
Your main occupation or calling.
“Teaching is her true vocation.”
A hobby or side pursuit done for enjoyment.
“Birdwatching is his favorite avocation.”
Relating to training for a specific trade or job.
“He enrolled in vocational school to become an electrician.”
Time off from work or school.
“We took a vacation by the sea.”
People often mix up vocation vs avocation because the words look almost identical and both are about how we spend our time. The difference is where the activity sits in your life. A vocation is your central work or calling, while an avocation is something you do on the side because you enjoy it. Here is how to tell them apart and use each one correctly.
| Term | Meaning | Part of speech / Category | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vocation (career) | A person’s regular occupation or trade | Noun, work | Carpentry has been his vocation for thirty years. |
| Vocation (calling) | A strong feeling of being suited to a particular kind of work or life | Noun, purpose | She felt a vocation to care for others. |
| Avocation | A hobby or minor occupation pursued for enjoyment, outside a main job | Noun, leisure | Astronomy is his avocation; he works as an accountant. |
| Vocational | Relating to skills or training for a particular job or trade | Adjective | The college offers vocational courses in welding. |
What does vocation mean?
A vocation is a person’s main occupation, or a strong sense of being called to a particular kind of work or way of life. It covers both a job you do and a purpose you feel.
The word has deep roots in religion, where it described being called to serve, as in a vocation to the priesthood. Today it is also used for careers such as medicine, teaching or carpentry. Example: “For her, nursing was more than a job; it was a vocation.”
What does avocation mean?
An avocation is something you do for fun or interest, outside your main work. It is often a hobby, though it can be serious, skilled and even profitable.
Examples include a lawyer who restores old clocks, a teacher who plays in a local band, or an engineer who paints landscapes. Example: “Photography began as his avocation, and he did it purely for the love of it.”
Vocation vs Avocation: What Is the Key Difference?
The key difference is importance and purpose in your life. A vocation is your central work or calling, usually how you spend most of your working time. An avocation is a pursuit on the side, done mainly for enjoyment.
A good test is to ask which one pays the bills or defines your main role. That is usually your vocation. The one you do in your free time because you love it is usually your avocation.
Can an avocation become a vocation?
Yes. Many people turn a hobby into a career, and when that happens the avocation becomes the vocation. A weekend baker who opens a bakery and a hobby photographer who becomes a full-time professional are classic examples.
The reverse can happen too. Someone may leave a long career and keep the work only as a hobby. The words describe the role the activity plays in your life, not the activity itself.
Where do the words vocation and avocation come from?
Both words trace back to the Latin verb vocare, which means “to call.” Vocation is about being called to something, while avocation literally suggests being called away from something, in this case away from your main work.
That older sense of avocation as a distraction or diversion explains how it came to mean a side interest. Some people use avocation to mean vocation, but traditional usage keeps the two separate.
Is vocation the same as vacation?
No. A vocation is a career or calling, while a vacation is a period of time off from work or school. The words look similar, but their meanings and sounds are different, since vocation is pronounced voh-KAY-shun and vacation is pronounced vay-KAY-shun.
How can you remember which one to use?
Ask whether it is your main work or your side interest. Main work or calling is a vocation. A hobby you do for pleasure is an avocation.
Common mistakes
- ✗ Playing guitar on weekends is his vocation; he works as an accountant.
✓ Playing guitar on weekends is his avocation; he works as an accountant. - ✗ She felt a strong avocation to become a nurse.
✓ She felt a strong vocation to become a nurse. - ✗ We are taking a vocation in Spain this summer.
✓ We are taking a vacation in Spain this summer. - ✗ He enrolled in an avocational school to become an electrician.
✓ He enrolled in a vocational school to become an electrician. - ✗ My avocation is my full-time job as an engineer.
✓ My vocation is my full-time job as an engineer.
Memory tricks
- A for away: Avocation is the activity “away” from your main work.
- Vocation has a voice: Think of a vocation as a calling, the voice that points you to your life’s work.
- O for occupation: Vocation has an O for occupation, and vacation has an A for away from work.
Vocation vs Avocation FAQ
What is the difference between vocation and avocation?
A vocation is your main occupation or calling, while an avocation is a hobby or side pursuit done for enjoyment outside your main work.
Can an avocation become a vocation?
Yes. If you turn a hobby into your main career, what began as an avocation becomes your vocation.
Is vocation the same as vacation?
No. A vocation is a career or calling, while a vacation is a period of time off from work or school.
What does vocational mean?
Vocational describes training or education that prepares people for a specific trade or job, such as vocational school for electricians or chefs.
Where do vocation and avocation come from?
Both words trace back to the Latin verb vocare, meaning to call.
Conclusion
The vocation vs avocation question comes down to the role an activity plays in your life. Your main work or calling is a vocation, and the pursuit you enjoy on the side is an avocation. Share this with someone who mixes these up.