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.

---

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.

---

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

---

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

---

holiday Idioms  

1. see busman's holiday.

---

Other Word Forms

• preholiday adjective

Etymology

Origin of holiday

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

Example Sentences

It’s a few days after the holiday break and Weisz, 55, is preparing to start production on a new film, “Séance on a Wet Afternoon.”

From Los Angeles Times

Mina says that her family has stopped buying branded goods and that they have not been on a foreign holiday since 2017.

From BBC

The majority of the company’s doughnuts are purchased for sharing, typically two to three times per year, often around holidays or events such as Valentine’s Day and Halloween.

From The Wall Street Journal

During the pandemic, importers rushed to lock in contracts in spring to guarantee space on containerships for the peak, end-of-year holiday shopping periods.

From The Wall Street Journal

Keeping the systems whirring is a constant operation, with technicians on site even during religious holidays.

From Barron's

Related Words

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