lifework
One's defining pursuit
A lifework is the principal occupation or achievement to which someone devotes their career or life: She considered teaching her lifework.
The term implies sustained commitment and purpose rather than just employment—something that defines a person's contribution: His lifework was documenting vanishing languages.
Trained occupational field
- occupationOne's regular paid work
- vocationDedicated career path
- callingStrongly felt purpose
- employmentPaid occupation status
trajectory · advancement · promotion · retirement · milestone · achievement · accomplishment · dedication
Strongly felt purpose
- purposeReason something exists
- dedicationWholehearted loyalty to purpose
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
- commitmentFirm pledge to act
passion · drive · ambition · aspiration · cause · crusade · advocacy · service
Supreme artistic achievement
- magnum opusCreator's supreme achievement
- oeuvreComplete artistic output
- creationMaking something exist
- compositionArranged elements forming whole
manuscript · anthology · collection · culmination · crowning achievement · artistic legacy · creative output
Inherited cultural legacy
- bequestGift left by will
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
- endowmentPermanent donated fund
- testamentWritten proof or legacy
heirloom · patrimony · descendants · posterity · tradition · memorial · monument · philanthropy
profession
Trained occupational field
- occupationOne's regular paid work
- vocationDedicated career path
- callingStrongly felt purpose
employment · trajectory · advancement · promotion · retirement · milestone · achievement · accomplishment · dedication · commitment
calling
Strongly felt purpose
- purposeReason something exists
- dedicationWholehearted loyalty to purpose
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
commitment · passion · drive · ambition · aspiration · cause · crusade · advocacy · service · ministry
masterpiece
Supreme artistic achievement
- magnum opusCreator's supreme achievement
- oeuvreComplete artistic output
- creationMaking something exist
composition · manuscript · anthology · collection · culmination · crowning achievement · artistic legacy · creative output
heritage
Inherited cultural legacy
- bequestGift left by will
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
- endowmentPermanent donated fund
testament · heirloom · patrimony · descendants · posterity · tradition · memorial · monument · philanthropy · benefaction
lifeworkbusywork
Meaningless assigned tasks
drudgery · time-waster · frivolity · make-work · dead-end job
lifeworkavocation
Pursuit outside one's profession
hobby · pastime · diversion · recreation · leisure activity
work, life, workshop, lifetime, lifestyle, biography, lifelong, livelihood, lifeline