terminal leave

American  

noun

1. the final leave granted to a member of the armed forces just before discharge, equal to the total unused leave accumulated during active service.

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Etymology

Origin of terminal leave

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

He requested an exemption to the Pentagon’s mandatory vaccine policy because he was about to retire and was going to begin using up his accumulated time off, known as terminal leave.

From Washington Times • Oct. 14, 2022

McCabe said he’d go on terminal leave until eligible to retire but “would not lie to the FBI workforce about the circumstances of his departure,” the suit alleges.

From Washington Post • Aug. 8, 2019

We reached a settlement with the police unions, leading to new 12 hour shifts, reduced salaries, reduced terminal leave payments and a reduced workforce of 252 officers.

From Washington Times • Jan. 9, 2018

Now a major on terminal leave, he will take on his new job in June, able to view his immediate future more complacently than most returning doctors.

From Time Magazine Archive

Exclusive of mustering-out payments and terminal leave pay, the program for veterans of all wars is costing over seven billion dollars a year—one-fifth of our total federal budget.

From State of the Union Address by Truman, Harry S.