staycation
Americannoun
-
staycations
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of staycation
First recorded in 1940–45; stay 1 + (va)cation
Explanation
A staycation is relaxing at home or in your own town over a break from work or school. If it's too expensive — or stressful — to go on a long road trip or fly somewhere and stay in hotels, your family might choose to staycation instead. The word staycation is a blend of stay and the last part of vacation. It’s a vacation where you stay at home. You might just hang around the house reading a good book or playing games. Or you might visit local sites that you never seem to have the time to go to — like the zoo, an amusement park, or a museum. Staycations can be a lot of fun, and relaxing, too, because you can avoid travel headaches (like flight delays) and sleep in your own bed every night.
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:
David and Barbara are no stranger to a staycation.
From BBC ● May 8, 2026
In April, her family will take a staycation in their hometown of Las Vegas, instead of a planned road trip to Yosemite National Park.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 28, 2026
Gifts here should improve daily life: nicer linens, a staycation, or an upgraded alarm clock to make hitting snooze more pleasant.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 6, 2026
Another neighborhood that would be fun to explore during a staycation is Culver City.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 8, 2025
Later this month my family is going on a quick staycation at Wyndham Hotel, booked entirely with my generous friend’s points she offered us, since they are due to expire at the end of June.
From Salon ● May 28, 2025
But we are extending down the chain scales to open up more opportunities for our own guests to have access to great staycations and Hyatt’s own conversion of care at a lower price point.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026
Travel expert and consumer champion Jane Hawkes said there had been a "measured shift" toward UK staycations.
From BBC ● Apr. 18, 2026
From comforting foods to cozy staycations, here’s the latest on local things to do.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 25, 2024
They named their five daughters after spiritual or Biblical references — Liberty, Glory, Grace, Justice and Faith — and the family often returns to Celebration for dinners, staycations and family walks.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 29, 2023
Suga Free reflects on his life and career Cauleen Smith journeys into the Deep West Versace’s gilded past and future collide in WeHo Dave Schilling staycations in… Panarama City?
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 19, 2023
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
