From Middle English professioun, from Anglo-Norman professioun, Old French profession, from Latin professiō, from the participle stem of profitērī ("to profess").

• IPA: /pɹəˈfɛʃən/

profession (plural professions)

1. Declaration of faith.
   1. (religion) A promise or vow made on entering a religious order. [from 12th c.]

      She died only a few years after her profession.

      • 1796, Matthew Lewis, The Monk, Folio Society, published 1985, page 27:

        Rosario was a young novice belonging to the monastery, who in three months intended to make his profession.

   2. The declaration of belief in the principles of a religion; hence, one's faith or religion. [from 16th c.]
      • 1780, William Cowper, letter, 12 June:

        I congratulate you upon the wisdom that withheld you from entering yourself a member of the Protestant Association […] it is likely to bring an odium upon the profession they make, that will not soon be forgotten.

   3. Any declaration of belief, faith or one's opinion, whether genuine or (as now often implied) pretended. [from 16th c.]

      Despite his continued professions of innocence, the court eventually sentenced him to five years.

      • 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Presentiment”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC ↗, page 126 ↗:

        I scarcely know any thing that really interests me, and I would give a great deal not to be so quick-sighted as I am; it would be so pleasant to believe only a tithe of the professions that are made me.

2. Professional occupation.
   1. An occupation, trade, craft, or activity in which one has a professed expertise in a particular area; a job, especially one requiring a high level of skill or training. [from 15th c.]

      My father was a barrister by profession.

      • 1886, George Bernard Shaw, Cashel Byron's Profession. […], London: The Modern Press, […], →OCLC ↗, page 4 ↗:

        “You are very idle, Cashel; I am sure of that. It is too provoking to throw away so much money every year for nothing. Besides, you must soon be thinking of a profession.” “I shall go into the army,” said Cashel. “It is the only profession for a gentleman.”

   2. (collective) The practitioners of such an occupation collectively. [from 17th c.]

      His conduct is against the established practices of the legal profession.

• French: profession
• German: Bekenntnis
• Russian: вероиспове́дание
• Spanish: profesión

• French: profession, métier
• German: Beruf, Profession
• Italian: professione
• Portuguese: profissão
• Russian: профе́ссия
• Spanish: profesión

• French: profession, corps de métier
• Spanish: gremio

• French: profession
• German: Profess, Gelübde
• Russian: обе́т
• Spanish: profesión, profesión de fe