national holiday

American

noun

a holiday that is observed throughout a nation.
a holiday that is legally established by a national government rather than by a municipal or state government.

Etymology

Origin of national holiday

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70

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.

Closed Monday for a national holiday and briefly insulated from heavy selling elsewhere, the South Korean stock market reopened Tuesday to heavy losses.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 3, 2026

Japanese markets will be closed for a national holiday on Monday.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

Australia Day - a national holiday on 26 January - marks the 1788 landing of Britain's First Fleet in Sydney Cove and the start of colonisation.

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026

Senegal eagerly awaited the return of its champions Monday, with streets decked out in banners and flags and the population given a national holiday following the country's thrilling Africa Cup of Nations win over Morocco.

From Barron's • Jan. 19, 2026

The fair prompted President Harrison to designate October 12 a national holiday, Columbus Day, which today serves to anchor a few thousand parades and a three-day weekend.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

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