holiday

¹ American  

[hol-i-dey] / ˈhɒl ɪˌdeɪ /

noun

1. a day fixed by law or custom on which ordinary business is suspended in commemoration of some event or in honor of some person.

2. any day of exemption from work (working day ).

   Synonyms:

   break, vacation

3. a time or period of exemption from any requirement, duty, assessment, etc..

   New businesses may be granted a one-year tax holiday.

4. a religious feast day; holy day, especially any of several usually commemorative holy days observed in Judaism.

5. Chiefly British. Sometimes holidays. a period of cessation from work or one of recreation; vacation.

6. an unintentional gap left on a plated, coated, or painted surface.

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adjective

1. of or relating to a festival; festive; joyous.

   a holiday mood.

2. suitable for a holiday.

   holiday attire.

verb (used without object)

1. Chiefly British. to vacation.

   to holiday at the seaside.

Holiday ² American  

[hol-i-dey] / ˈhɒl ɪˌdeɪ /

noun

1. Billie Lady Day, 1915–59, U.S. jazz singer.

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holiday ¹ British  

/ -dɪ, ˈhɒlɪˌdeɪ /

noun

1. (often plural)

   1. US and Canadian word: vacation.  a period in which a break is taken from work or studies for rest, travel, or recreation

   2. ( as modifier )

      a holiday mood

2. a day on which work is suspended by law or custom, such as a religious festival, bank holiday, etc

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verb

1. (intr) to spend a holiday

Holiday ² British  

/ ˈhɒlɪˌdeɪ /

noun

1. Billie. real name Eleanora Fagan; known as Lady Day. 1915–59, US jazz singer

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holiday Idioms  

1. see busman's holiday.

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Other Word Forms

• preholiday adjective

Etymology

Origin of holiday

First recorded before 950; Middle English; Old English hāligdæg; equivalent to holy + day

Explanation

A holiday celebrates a person, anniversary, religious belief or other occasion. You might observe the Indian holiday of Holi, and take a week off of work to celebrate with your family. A holiday is an occasion recognized by the state or federal government and marked on calendars, like Thanksgiving in the United States. Most holidays are celebratory and fun, and just about all of them mean no work or school. You can also take a holiday, or vacation. Holiday comes from "holy" and "day," meaning a religious festival, and the word was even pronounced that way until the sixteenth century.

Example Sentences

The Harlands, who built the structure using polystyrene packaging acquired from a friend, said that they were inspired by a similar display they saw on a holiday in Ghent, Belgium.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

Pakistan declared a two-day holiday in the capital.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

The Canary Islands are a popular holiday destination for Brits - around 3.83m visited in 2025, with around 70,000 heading to La Gomera, according to the Canary Islands Tourism Observatory.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

Since the truce was declared, the bombs have fallen silent in Tehran, and the Iranian capital now has the air of a public holiday.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

“This is my gift to Humphrey. This extension attaches to his cage and makes it bigger. Now you’re all going to help me build Humphrey his holiday present: his very own playground.”

From "The World According to Humphrey" by Betty G. Birney

Related Words

• anniversary
• break
• celebration
• feast
• festival
• festivity
• gala
• layoff
• recess
• vacation