Etymologically
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profession

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 14:06. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /pɹəˈfɛʃ.ən/[1]

Etymology

It is Middle English professiun, borrowed from Old French profession and directly Latin professio (“public declaration; avowed occupation”),[2][3][4] from professus, past participle of profitērī (“to declare openly”) (see profess).[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The vows of a person entering a religious order: probably before 1200, in the Ancrene Riwle;[2] before 1225 in the OED.[5]

Semantic evolution

Any solemn declaration or vow is from the mid-14th century (1362).[3][5] An occupation one professes to be skilled in, a calling, is from the early 15th century in Etymonline,[3] and an occupation requiring professed skill or training from 1541 in Barnhart.[2] The body of persons in an occupation is from 1610.[3] The Century Dictionary noted that theology, law and medicine were formerly known as the professions, and that the word implies attainments in special knowledge as distinct from mere skill.[3] As a euphemism for prostitution, compare the oldest profession, it is from 1888.[3] In Scots a profession was also a religious denomination.[6]

Timeline

  • before 1200 – religious vows.[2]
  • 1362 – a solemn declaration.[5]
  • early 15th century – a calling.[3]
  • 1541 – a trained occupation.[2]
  • 1610 – a body of practitioners.[3]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. An occupation needing long training and specialized study, such as law or medicine.
  2. The body of qualified people in such an occupation.
  3. A declaration of belief, faith or feeling.

Word family

  • professionless
  • nonprofession
  • professional
  • learned profession
  • world's oldest profession

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  5. ^ a b c Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Wright, Joseph, ed. (1898–1905), The English Dialect Dictionary, 6 vols., Oxford: Henry Frowde; via EDD Online 4.0, University of Innsbruck (CC BY 4.0)