holiday

¹ American  

[hol-i-dey] / ˈhɒl ɪˌdeɪ /

noun

1. a day fixed by law or custom on which ordinary business is suspended in commemoration of some event or in honor of some person.

2. any day of exemption from work (distinguished from working day).

   Synonyms:

   break, vacation

3. a time or period of exemption from any requirement, duty, assessment, etc..

   New businesses may be granted a one-year tax holiday.

4. a religious feast day; holy day, especially any of several usually commemorative holy days observed in Judaism.

5. Chiefly British. Sometimes holidays. a period of cessation from work or one of recreation; vacation.

6. an unintentional gap left on a plated, coated, or painted surface.

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adjective

1. of or relating to a festival; festive; joyous.

   a holiday mood.

2. suitable for a holiday.

   holiday attire.

verb (used without object)

1. Chiefly British. to vacation.

   to holiday at the seaside.

Holiday ² American  

[hol-i-dey] / ˈhɒl ɪˌdeɪ /

noun

1. Billie Lady Day, 1915–59, U.S. jazz singer.

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holiday ¹ British  

/ -dɪ, ˈhɒlɪˌdeɪ /

noun

1. (often plural)

   1. US and Canadian word: vacation.  a period in which a break is taken from work or studies for rest, travel, or recreation

   2. ( as modifier )

      a holiday mood

2. a day on which work is suspended by law or custom, such as a religious festival, bank holiday, etc

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verb

1. (intr) to spend a holiday

Holiday ² British  

/ ˈhɒlɪˌdeɪ /

noun

1. Billie. real name Eleanora Fagan; known as Lady Day. 1915–59, US jazz singer

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holiday Idioms  

1. see busman's holiday.

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Other Word Forms

• preholiday adjective

Etymology

Origin of holiday

First recorded before 950; Middle English; Old English hāligdæg; equivalent to holy + day

Explanation

A holiday celebrates a person, anniversary, religious belief or other occasion. You might observe the Indian holiday of Holi, and take a week off of work to celebrate with your family. A holiday is an occasion recognized by the state or federal government and marked on calendars, like Thanksgiving in the United States. Most holidays are celebratory and fun, and just about all of them mean no work or school. You can also take a holiday, or vacation. Holiday comes from "holy" and "day," meaning a religious festival, and the word was even pronounced that way until the sixteenth century.

Example Sentences

It is worth noting that advance estimates of U.S. retail sales are adjusted for seasonal variations, as well as holiday and trading-day differences between months, but not for price changes.

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

Slaney sponsored a “Shop With a Cop” holiday program.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

The woman’s soon-to-be ex had given it to her when they started watching the movie together as a holiday tradition.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

It was around Christmas, and Sarah and her daughter were about to take a long-awaited trip from Michigan to Texas to see Sarah’s mother for the holiday.

From Slate • Apr. 19, 2026

It was my favorite holiday because when we picked cotton in Corcoran I started school around that time every year.

From "Breaking Through" by Francisco Jiménez

Related Words

• anniversary
• break
• celebration
• feast
• festival
• festivity
• gala
• layoff
• recess
• vacation