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

It was meant to be the "first of many" celebrations for Lauren Macpherson, who had spent the August bank holiday at a music festival in London.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

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

From BBC • Jan. 5, 2026

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 • Jan. 1, 2026

The authorities have not linked the bank holiday to the protests.

From Barron's • Dec. 31, 2025

Your cads in a bank holiday train and your cads on a two thousand pound motor; except for a difference in scale, there's not a pin to choose between them.

From Kipps The Story of a Simple Soul by Wells, H. G. (Herbert George)