Synonyms

sick leave

American

noun

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

sick leave British

noun

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.

District Judge Amir Ali determined in his ruling issued Monday that Donner failed to meet the company rules and that his conduct was not protected by the District of Columbia’s sick leave law.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

Moffi and Boga have both been placed on sick leave by the club.

From Barron's • Dec. 3, 2025

"The pain can be so severe I can be left completely bedbound and if that happens I can't work and have taken long periods of sick leave," she told the BBC.

From BBC • Nov. 5, 2025

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed Monday afternoon that the Federal Aviation Administration noted a “slight tick up” in air-traffic control workers requesting sick leave.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 8, 2025

The neat writing within indicated salary, number of holidays, sick leave, and so forth.

From "The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling" by Maryrose Wood

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