Vocational

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Relating to or providing training in practical skills and techniques for specific trades or occupations rather than academic or theoretical knowledge
2. Connected to training or education focused on imparting practical skills for specific careers or trades rather than general academic subjects
3. Pertaining to education or training designed to equip individuals with practical skills necessary for specific professions or trades rather than broader academic learning

Etymology: Vocational began life as a fairly plain piece of word-building. Its base, "vocation," came into English from Old French "vocation," which in turn came from the Latin "vocatio," a "calling" or "summoning," built on the verb "vocare," "to call." The sense of a divine summons, a calling to a religious life, was the original heart of the word, and the everyday sense of an occupation followed from it. The adjective was made in English by adding the suffix "-al," which comes through Old French from Latin "-alis" and simply means "relating to." So "vocational" literally means "relating to a calling." The modern sense of training for a trade or skilled work developed from the idea that a person's calling is their working life.

Synonyms: occupational, professional

Antonyms: unrelated