vacation

American  

[vey-key-shuhn, vuh-] / veɪˈkeɪ ʃən, və- /

noun

1. a period of suspension of work, study, or other activity, usually used for rest, recreation, or travel; recess or holiday.

   Schoolchildren are on vacation now.

2. a part of the year, regularly set aside, when normal activities of law courts, legislatures, etc., are suspended.

3. freedom or release from duty, business, or activity.

4. an act or instance of vacating.

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verb (used without object)

1. to take or have a vacation.

   to vacation in the Caribbean.

vacation British  

/ vəˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. a period of the year when the law courts or universities are closed

2. a period in which a break is taken from work or studies for rest, travel, or recreation Also called (in Britain and certain other countries) holiday

3. the act of departing from or abandoning property, etc

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verb

1. (intr) to take a vacation; holiday

Other Word Forms

• minivacation noun
• prevacation noun
• vacationer noun
• vacationist noun
• vacationless adjective

Etymology

Origin of vacation

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Latin vacātiōn-, stem of vacātiō “freedom from something”; equivalent to vacate + -ion; replacing Middle English vacacioun, from Anglo-French

Example Sentences

The trust can buy such assets as jewelry, art or vacation homes.

From The Wall Street Journal

Online creators often use their own lives - their vacations, their pets, their makeup routines - to make content and attract a following.

From BBC

As a result, they have held off on vacation hiring this year.

From The Wall Street Journal

The raid has been jarring in the Oxnard School District, which was closed for summer vacation but reopened on July 10 to contact families and ensure their well-being, Supt.

From Los Angeles Times

He keeps a low profile outside Disney’s offices and rarely speaks publicly, though he is active on X and Instagram, where he shares photos of himself with stars at premieres and on vacation in Iceland.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• break
• holiday
• layoff
• recess
• respite
• rest
• sabbatical
• time off