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vacation

[ vey-key-shuhn, vuh- ]
/ veɪˈkeɪ ʃən, və- /
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See synonyms for: vacation / vacationed / vacationing / vacationer on Thesaurus.com

noun
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.
a part of the year, regularly set aside, when normal activities of law courts, legislatures, etc., are suspended.
freedom or release from duty, business, or activity.
an act or instance of vacating.
verb (used without object)
to take or have a vacation: to vacation in the Caribbean.
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

Origin of vacation

1350–1400; <Latin vacātiōn- (stem of vacātiō freedom from something; see vacate, -ion); replacing Middle English vacacioun<Anglo-French

OTHER WORDS FROM vacation

va·ca·tion·er, va·ca·tion·ist, nounva·ca·tion·less, adjectivemin·i·va·ca·tion, nounpre·va·ca·tion, noun, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH vacation

vacation , vocation
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use vacation in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for vacation

vacation
/ (vəˈkeɪʃən) /

noun
mainly British a period of the year when the law courts or universities are closed
mainly US and Canadian a period in which a break is taken from work or studies for rest, travel, or recreationAlso called (in Britain and certain other countries) holiday
the act of departing from or abandoning property, etc
verb
(intr) US and Canadian to take a vacation; holiday

Derived forms of vacation

vacationless, adjective

Word Origin for vacation

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