n.
- a paid occupation, especially one involving training and a formal qualification.
▸
[treated as sing. or pl.]
a body of people engaged in a profession.
- an open but typically false claim:
a profession of allegiance.
- a declaration of belief in a religion.
▸the vows made on entering a religious order.
▸the fact of being professed in a religious order.
Phrase
- the oldest profession
humorous prostitution.
Etymology
ME: via OFr. from L. professio(n-), from profiteri (see profess).