bank holiday

American

noun

a weekday on which banks are closed by law; legal holiday.
British. a secular day on which banks are closed, obligations then falling due being performable on the following secular day.

bank holiday British

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of bank holiday

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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 • Feb. 4, 2026

A day can be appointed as a bank holiday in Scotland by royal proclamation.

From BBC • Jan. 5, 2026

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

From Barron's • Dec. 31, 2025

The streets of Tehran were calm early on Wednesday, a change from the usual chaotic and choking traffic, with the authorities having announced a bank holiday with just a day's notice.

From Barron's • Dec. 31, 2025

If Christmas Day and New Year's Day fall on a Sunday, the next Monday following is the bank holiday.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 2 "Baconthorpe" to "Bankruptcy" by Various

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023