What is the Latin word for occupation?

The usual Latin words for “occupation” are possessiō, negōtium. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“occupation” in Latin

possessiōthe act of taking possession of, seizing, occupying, taking; the act of holding; possession, occupation, control, occupa negōtiumbusiness, employment, occupation, affair; difficulty, pains, trouble, labor; matter, thing (= πρᾶγμα (prâgma))

The English word occupation itself goes back to Latin occupō, through occupātiō.

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

occupation

The act of occupying, possessio (possession); usually by the verbs.

Employment, business, negotium: without occupation, negotiis vacuus.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for occupation?: The usual Latin words for “occupation” are possessiō, negōtium. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.