holiday

¹

[hol-i-dey]

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 (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.

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

[hol-i-dey]

noun

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

holiday

¹

/ -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

verb

1. (intr) to spend a holiday

Holiday

²

/ ˈhɒlɪˌdeɪ /

noun

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

Other Word Forms

• preholiday adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of holiday¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of holiday¹

Old English hāligdæg, literally: holy day

Idioms and Phrases

see busman's holiday.

Example Sentences

The full-back's two brothers were born in Chertsey and he has often visited England's south coast for family holidays, with his mum hailing from London.

Read more on BBC

A kilt might not be the first thing on your list when you're a TV superstar packing for an autumnal holiday in Scotland.

Read more on BBC

The Welsh Liberal Democrats said it would introduce 30 hours per week of childcare for children from nine months to school age and invest in school holiday provision.

Read more on BBC

She was from another state but she was in Los Angeles, staying with her sister for the holidays.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

That was a holiday in parts of early Canada called “militia muster day,” where able-bodied men would participate in military training before engaging in recreational activities.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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