Career

Definition

Career is a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to an individual’s long-term professional journey or occupation. It encompasses the sequence of jobs, positions, and roles undertaken in a particular field over a lifetime. As a verb, it means to move swiftly and uncontrollably in a specific direction.

Parts of Speech

• Noun
• Verb

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /kəˈrɪr/
• Respelling: kuh-REER

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /kəˈrɪə/
• Respelling: kuh-REER

The pronunciation of "career" differs slightly between American and British English, with the British pronunciation elongating the final syllable.

Etymology

The word "career" originates from the French "carrière," meaning "road" or "racecourse," which in turn comes from the Late Latin "carraria," meaning "a road for vehicles." It entered English in the 16th century to describe a person's progress or general course in life, eventually evolving to mean professional paths.

Derivatives

• Careerist (noun)
• Careerism (noun)
• Career-wise (adverb)
• Career-related (adjective)
• Careerful (adjective, informal)

Synonyms

• Occupation
• Profession
• Vocation

Antonyms

• Unemployment
• Joblessness
• Hobby

Usage

The term "career" is widely used to describe an individual’s professional life path, as in "She pursued a career in medicine." As a verb, it can mean moving rapidly, often in an uncontrolled way, as in "The car careered down the hill."

Related Terms

• Profession: A type of job requiring specialized education or training.
• Occupation: A person’s regular work or business.
• Vocation: An occupation, especially one suited to a person’s interests or skills.

Detailed Definitions

Noun

• The long-term professional journey or occupation of an individual: Refers to the sequence of jobs or roles taken on by a person in a particular field or area of interest.
  • Example: "She has had a successful career in engineering."
• General progression or course of life: Describes the path or course of an individual's life, especially in a professional or occupational sense.
  • Example: "His career has taken him across multiple continents."

Verb

• To move swiftly and uncontrollably in a specific direction: Often used to describe rapid, erratic movement.
  • Example: "The truck careered off the road during the storm."