Career vs. careen

What does career mean?

Career is a noun which means an occupation or the progress of an organisation through history. In British English, career can be used as a verb which means to move swiftly in an uncontrolled way.

For example:

• Her career as an editor (occupation).

• The Writer’s Society has had a flourishing career (progress through history).

• The bus careered across the highway (verb).

What does careen mean?

In American English, careen is a verb which means to move swiftly in an uncontrolled way.

For example:

• The bus careened across the highway.

What’s the difference between career and careen?

As a noun, career means occupation or the progress of an organisation through history. As a verb, career and careen can mean to more swiftly in an uncontrolled way. Career is used in British English while careen is used in American English.

For example:

• She was on her way to a job interview that would change the course of her career when her car careened off the road. Thankfully, a passerby drove her the rest of the way to her interview.