public holiday

British

noun

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.

Since the truce was declared, the bombs have fallen silent in Tehran, and the Iranian capital now has the air of a public holiday.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

Authorities in the Democratic Republic Congo have declared Wednesday a public holiday after the national football team qualified for their first World Cup in 52 years.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

The Two Sessions come just after Lunar New Year, which was extended into a nine-day public holiday aimed at encouraging people to spend on tourism and leisure.

From Barron's • Mar. 4, 2026

Both her son and daughter were at home after authorities declared a seven-day public holiday.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2026

This day was declared by the Malolos Congress to be a public holiday in perpetuity.

From The Philippine Islands by Foreman, John

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