bank holiday

American  

noun

1. a weekday on which banks are closed by law; legal holiday.

2. British. a secular day on which banks are closed, obligations then falling due being performable on the following secular day.

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bank holiday British  

noun

1. (in Britain) any of several weekdays on which banks are closed by law and which are observed as national holidays

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Etymology

Origin of bank holiday

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

Epstein, who was in France, emailed Mandelson and said: "I do not have a visa for Russia, it is a bank holiday in paris today... any ideas how i can get one."

From BBC

First Minister John Swinney has proposed that 15 June is designated as a national bank holiday.

From BBC

Annual leave stands at about four weeks per year in Australia, and it also boasts 13-14 public bank holidays a year, compared to the UK's eight.

From BBC

Schools, universities and public institutions were closed across the country on Wednesday after a bank holiday was declared by authorities in an apparent effort to quell the unrest.

From BBC

Iran is in the middle of an extended weekend, with the authorities declaring Wednesday a bank holiday at the last minute, citing the need to save energy during the cold weather.

From Barron's