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public holiday

British  

noun

  1. a holiday observed over the whole country

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

Traders have to be on their toes this week as the Juneteenth public holiday shifts the schedule for when options expire, potentially meaning volatility for the stock market.

From Barron's • Jun. 18, 2026

The government declared the day a public holiday.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

The eurozone’s data calendar will be light, while Ascension Day on Thursday will be a public holiday in a number of countries.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

May 1 is a public holiday in many countries to mark International Workers’ Day, or Labor Day, when workers’ unions traditionally rally around wages, pensions, inequality and broader political issues.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

On this public holiday, as on all other occasions, for seven years past, Hester was clad in a garment of coarse gray cloth.

From The Scarlet Letter by Foote, Mary Hallock

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