What does vocationally mean?
Vocationally is an adverb meaning in relation to a vocation, occupation, or professional career. It is especially common in discussions of education and training, where it describes preparation for a particular kind of work: vocationally trained workers, for example, have learned skills intended for a specific occupation or profession. The word can also suggest the broader idea of treating work as a calling, not merely as a means of earning money, although in contemporary usage this more personal sense is less common than the practical sense concerning careers and training. Vocationally is closely associated with vocational education, which emphasizes occupational preparation, as distinct from general academic education. It is a useful word for discussing the relationship between learning, skills, and employment, particularly in professional, educational, and career-development contexts.
adverbIn relation to a vocation, occupation, or professional career, especially as concerns training, education, or career development.
- With respect to a vocation, occupation, or career, especially in relation to training, education, or professional development.
"The program provides vocationally focused training for students entering the engineering industry."
"She received vocationally oriented training in graphic design."
"After graduating, he considered a vocationally relevant qualification and a job in his field."
Vocationally connects the idea of a job with the older sense of a calling: work that is not merely employment, but a vocation.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of vocationally
Vocationally was formed in English by adding the adverbial suffix -ally to vocational. The adjective vocational comes through French from Latin vocationem, meaning “a calling” or “a profession,” which derives from Latin vocare, “to call.” The modern sense developed from the idea of a vocation as an occupation or profession and now commonly refers to work-related education and training.
Related word forms
How vocationally is actually used
This is a formal word commonly used in education, employment, and career-services contexts. It typically indicates a practical connection to work or professional development rather than an academic or purely theoretical one.