noun

1. a professing, or declaring; avowal, whether true or pretended a profession of sympathy
2. 1. the avowal of belief in a religion
   2. a faith or religion professed
3. 1. a vocation or occupation requiring advanced education and training, and involving intellectual skills, as medicine, law, theology, engineering, teaching, etc.
   2. the body of persons in any such calling or occupation
   3. loosely any occupation
4. the act or ceremony of taking vows on formally entering a religious order

Etymology: OFr < L professio