gap year

American  

[gap yeer] / ˈgæp ˌyɪər /

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.

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gap year British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of gap year

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

Example Sentences

Visiting the Welsh Guards has become an annual fixture for the prince, a connection which dates back to his 2003 gap year when he accompanied them in the jungles of Belize in Central America.

From BBC

The back-up batter, Jacob Bethell, has pretty much been on a gap year, but at least made 71 for the Lions on Sunday.

From BBC

She has recently taken a gap year from her degree in textiles and fashion, a qualification which came in very handy for design challenges on the show.

From BBC

His mother was under the impression that he would do the fellowship as a gap year, and then reapply to return to college.

From The Wall Street Journal

"I believe the PM has children who are at an age where they will shortly be going on to further education and possibly gap year travelling."

From BBC