Explanation at your level:
An avocation is a hobby. It is something you do because you like it. You do it when you are not working. For example, if you are a teacher but you like to play guitar, playing guitar is your avocation. It makes you happy!
When you have a job, that is your vocation. But when you do something else for fun in your free time, that is your avocation. It is not for money. Many people have an avocation like gardening, reading, or running. It is a good way to relax.
An avocation is a secondary activity that you pursue for personal satisfaction. Unlike a job, you don't do it to pay the bills. It is a great way to develop new skills. For instance, a doctor might have an avocation for woodworking. It helps them take a break from their stressful main job.
The term avocation is a sophisticated way to describe a serious hobby. While 'hobby' implies something casual, 'avocation' suggests a deeper commitment or a passion that is pursued with intent. It is often used in professional contexts to describe a person's diverse interests beyond their primary career path.
In advanced English, avocation is used to distinguish between one's professional identity and one's personal pursuits. It carries a nuance of intellectual or creative enrichment. It is common to see this word in biographical sketches or academic writing where the subject's 'well-roundedness' is being highlighted. It implies that the individual finds meaning and structure in their life through these chosen activities.
Etymologically, avocation suggests a 'calling away' from the routine of professional life. In C2 usage, it is often contrasted with 'vocation' to explore the dichotomy between duty and desire. It serves as a marker of a cultivated individual who balances societal obligations with personal passions. Literary works often use it to hint at a character's hidden depths or secret aspirations that exist outside the public sphere of their employment.
Palavra em 30 segundos
- Avocation means a hobby.
- It is done for pleasure, not money.
- It is the opposite of a vocation.
- Use it to sound more formal.
Have you ever met someone who works as a serious accountant by day but spends their weekends painting beautiful landscapes? That painting is their avocation. While a vocation is your main job or calling, an avocation is the activity you choose for the pure joy of it.
Think of it as the passion project that keeps your brain balanced. It is not necessarily about making money; it is about personal growth, relaxation, or creative expression. People often use this word to describe activities they take quite seriously, even if they aren't their main source of income.
The word avocation has a fascinating Latin root. It comes from the Latin avocare, which means 'to call away.' You can see the connection: your main job 'calls' you to work, while your avocation 'calls you away' from that work to do something else.
Historically, it evolved in the 17th century. It was originally used to describe something that distracts or diverts a person from their duty. Over time, the meaning shifted from a simple 'distraction' to a 'chosen hobby.' It is a great example of how language changes to reflect our human need for balance.
You will mostly hear avocation in formal or literary contexts. It sounds a bit more sophisticated than just saying 'hobby.' You might use it in a professional bio or a formal essay to describe someone's well-rounded life.
Common collocations include 'pursue an avocation' or 'a lifelong avocation.' Because it carries a slightly elevated tone, it is perfect for when you want to highlight that a hobby is a significant, meaningful part of someone's identity rather than just a passing interest.
While there aren't many idioms using the exact word, it fits into the broader concept of 'labor of love', which means doing something for the pleasure of it. Another related expression is 'off the clock', referring to the time when your avocation happens. You might also say someone has a 'second string to their bow', implying they have a backup skill or interest. 'To follow one's bliss' is another way to describe pursuing an avocation. Finally, 'a creative outlet' is the most common way people describe their avocation in casual conversation.
Avocation is a countable noun, so you can have one avocation or several avocations. It is pronounced /ˌæv.əˈkeɪ.ʃən/ in both American and British English. The stress is on the third syllable: av-o-CA-tion.
It rhymes with words like vacation, station, and relation. It is almost always used with the indefinite article 'an' because it starts with a vowel sound. It is a formal term, so you won't hear it as often as 'hobby' in daily slang.
Fun Fact
It originally meant a distraction from work!
Pronunciation Guide
Starts with a short 'a' sound, stress on the third syllable.
Very similar to UK, clear 'a' sounds.
Common Errors
- Misplacing the stress
- Pronouncing it like 'evocation'
- Dropping the 'a' at the start
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Formal word, but clear meaning.
Great for academic writing.
Sounds very educated.
Easy to recognize.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Avançado
Grammar to Know
Articles with nouns
an avocation
Gerunds as nouns
My avocation is painting
Subject-verb agreement
His avocation is...
Examples by Level
My avocation is painting.
My hobby is painting.
Use 'is' for singular.
He likes his avocation.
He likes his hobby.
Subject-verb agreement.
What is your avocation?
What is your hobby?
Question structure.
I have an avocation.
I have a hobby.
Use 'an' before vowel.
She loves her avocation.
She loves her hobby.
Possessive pronoun.
It is a fun avocation.
It is a fun hobby.
Adjective placement.
My avocation is reading.
My hobby is reading.
Gerund as noun.
Do you have an avocation?
Do you have a hobby?
Interrogative form.
My avocation is playing the piano.
He pursues his avocation every weekend.
She found a new avocation in pottery.
Is gardening your only avocation?
They share a common avocation.
His avocation is bird watching.
An avocation helps me relax.
I spend time on my avocation.
Writing poetry is her favorite avocation.
He treats his avocation with great seriousness.
Many doctors have an avocation for music.
Finding an avocation can improve your mental health.
She balances her work and her avocation.
His avocation is restoring old cars.
They discussed their favorite avocations.
An avocation is a great way to learn.
His avocation as a photographer has led to several exhibitions.
She views her avocation as essential to her well-being.
The professor's avocation is studying ancient history.
It is important to have an avocation outside of the office.
His avocation provides a much-needed creative outlet.
She devotes her weekends to her avocation.
They are deeply committed to their shared avocation.
An avocation can sometimes turn into a second career.
The CEO's avocation for mountaineering reflects his adventurous spirit.
He considers his avocation to be as important as his professional life.
Her avocation provides a sanctuary from the pressures of her career.
The distinction between vocation and avocation is often blurred in modern times.
His avocation for linguistics is apparent in his writing.
She pursues her avocation with the same rigor as her job.
An avocation can be a source of profound personal fulfillment.
They treated their avocation with the utmost dedication.
His avocation, a lifelong study of rare manuscripts, defined his retirement.
The scholar's avocation was not merely a hobby but a serious intellectual pursuit.
She found the perfect equilibrium between her vocation and her avocation.
His avocation served as a vital counterpoint to his public persona.
The interplay between his professional duties and his avocation was complex.
She pursued her avocation with an intensity that bordered on obsession.
An avocation can reveal the hidden facets of a person's character.
The pursuit of an avocation is a testament to the human desire for self-actualization.
Sinônimos
Antônimos
Colocações comuns
Idioms & Expressions
"Labor of love"
Work done for pleasure, not money.
The garden is a labor of love.
neutral"Second string to one's bow"
A backup skill or interest.
Learning coding is a second string to his bow.
idiomatic"Off the clock"
Outside of work hours.
I do my woodcarving off the clock.
casual"Creative outlet"
A way to express creativity.
Painting is my main creative outlet.
neutral"Follow one's bliss"
Do what makes you happy.
She decided to follow her bliss and start pottery.
inspirationalEasily Confused
Sounds similar
Vocation is work, Avocation is hobby
My vocation is law; my avocation is art.
Similar spelling
Evocation is bringing a memory to mind
The smell caused an evocation of my childhood.
Rhymes
Vacation is a holiday
We went on vacation to Spain.
None
Unique meaning
I enjoy my avocation.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + has + an + avocation + for + noun
He has an avocation for chess.
Subject + pursues + an + avocation
She pursues an avocation in music.
My + avocation + is + gerund
My avocation is gardening.
An + avocation + provides + noun
An avocation provides balance.
Subject + treats + avocation + as + noun
He treats his avocation as a serious task.
Família de palavras
Nouns
Relacionado
How to Use It
4
Formality Scale
Erros comuns
Vocation is your 'calling' (job), avocation is what 'calls you away'.
Starts with a vowel sound.
Avocation is specifically for non-financial gain.
There is no verb form of avocation.
Evocation means calling something to mind, not a hobby.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a 'V' for Vocation (Work) and an 'A' for Avocation (Away/Hobby).
When Native Speakers Use It
In formal bios or articles.
Cultural Insight
It reflects the importance of work-life balance.
Grammar Shortcut
Always use 'an' before it.
Say It Right
Rhymes with vacation.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't confuse it with vocation.
Did You Know?
It used to mean a distraction.
Study Smart
Use it in a sentence about your own hobbies.
Word Family
Learn 'vocation' at the same time.
Writing Tip
Use it to add variety to your essays.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
A-vocation is A-hobby, Vocation is V-ery professional job.
Visual Association
A person walking away from a desk (work) to a piano (avocation).
Word Web
Desafio
Write three sentences about your own avocation.
Origem da palavra
Latin
Original meaning: To call away
Contexto cultural
None.
Used often in formal bios to show depth.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At work
- My avocation is...
- I pursue an avocation in...
In a bio
- His avocation includes...
- A lifelong avocation for...
In conversation
- What is your avocation?
- I have an avocation for...
In school
- Write about your avocation.
- Define your avocation.
Conversation Starters
"What is your favorite avocation?"
"Do you think having an avocation is important?"
"Can an avocation become a career?"
"What is the difference between a hobby and an avocation?"
"How does your avocation help you relax?"
Journal Prompts
Describe your avocation and why you love it.
If you could have any avocation, what would it be?
How does your avocation differ from your daily work?
Write about a time your avocation helped you through a stressful day.
Perguntas frequentes
8 perguntasYes, but it is a more formal term.
No, that is a vocation.
It is somewhat rare in casual speech.
av-uh-KAY-shun.
Not necessarily, but it implies interest.
No, it is a noun.
Yes, you can have multiple avocations.
To sound more sophisticated.
Teste-se
My ___ is drawing.
Avocation means hobby.
Which is an avocation?
Avocation is a hobby.
An avocation is usually done for money.
It is done for pleasure.
Word
Significado
Vocation is work, avocation is fun.
Subject-verb-complement.
He pursues his ___ with passion.
Fits the context of a hobby.
What is the primary difference?
Avocation is non-paid.
Avocation comes from 'to call away'.
Latin origin.
Her ___ was her escape from the office.
Escape implies a hobby.
Which is a synonym?
Pursuit is a synonym.
Pontuação: /10
Summary
An avocation is a passion you pursue for joy, not for a paycheck.
- Avocation means a hobby.
- It is done for pleasure, not money.
- It is the opposite of a vocation.
- Use it to sound more formal.
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a 'V' for Vocation (Work) and an 'A' for Avocation (Away/Hobby).
When Native Speakers Use It
In formal bios or articles.
Cultural Insight
It reflects the importance of work-life balance.
Grammar Shortcut
Always use 'an' before it.
Exemplo
Gardening has become his favorite avocation since he retired from the bank.
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