gap year

[gap yeer]

noun

1. a period of time, usually an academic or calendar year, in which a student takes a break from school to travel, work, or volunteer, typically after ending high school and before starting college.

gap year

noun

1. a year's break taken by a student between leaving school and starting further education

Word History and Origins

Origin of gap year¹

First recorded in 1975–80; gap ( def. ) + year ( def. )