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Synonyms

sick leave

American  

noun

  1. leave from duty, work, or the like, granted because of illness.


sick leave British  

noun

  1. leave of absence from work through illness

"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

Etymology

Origin of sick leave

First recorded in 1830–40

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.

See Examples For:

He said Germany's rate of sick leave was among the steepest in the EU.

From BBC Jul. 3, 2026

A 2019 study by the Center for American Progress found that 39% of all workers — and 80% of low-wage workers — get no paid vacation time, and no paid sick leave.

From Salon Jun. 24, 2026

Paid sick leave, however, varies from state to state.

From MarketWatch May 11, 2026

During times when people were taking semaglutide, psychiatric-related hospital care and sick leave dropped by 42% compared with periods when they were not using these medications.

From Science Daily May 4, 2026

In mid-December the secretary became ill and was forced to go on sick leave.

From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler

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