vacation

[vey-key-shuhn, vuh-]

noun

1. a period of suspension of work, study, or other activity, usually used for rest, recreation, or travel; recess or holiday.

   Schoolchildren are on vacation now.

2. a part of the year, regularly set aside, when normal activities of law courts, legislatures, etc., are suspended.

3. freedom or release from duty, business, or activity.

4. an act or instance of vacating.

verb (used without object)

1. to take or have a vacation.

   to vacation in the Caribbean.

vacation

/ vəˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. a period of the year when the law courts or universities are closed

2. a period in which a break is taken from work or studies for rest, travel, or recreation Also called (in Britain and certain other countries) holiday

3. the act of departing from or abandoning property, etc

verb

1. (intr) to take a vacation; holiday

Other Word Forms

• vacationer noun
• vacationist noun
• vacationless adjective
• minivacation noun
• prevacation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of vacation¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Latin vacātiōn-, stem of vacātiō “freedom from something”; equivalent to vacate + -ion; replacing Middle English vacacioun, from Anglo-French

Word History and Origins

Origin of vacation¹

C14: from Latin vacātiō freedom, from vacāre to be empty

Example Sentences

But even then, people who can’t afford to buy a home, upgrade their car or take a vacation might continue to buy relatively cheap consumer goods.

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Colorado private judge Angie Arkin held one emergency conference for divorcing parents from a hotel lobby while on vacation in Maui.

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If the money will be used to pay bills, fund a vacation or give as gifts to family or friends, most people will simply take the RMD when they need the funds.

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If I’m working with Booking.com or Expedia, chat has the memory of knowing where I’ve been on vacation or that I’m a family of four.

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I like school, but I also like summer vacation.

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Related Words

• break 
• holiday 
• layoff 
• recess 
• respite 
• rest 
• sabbatical 
• time off