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

Derived Forms

• vaˈcationless, adjective

Other Words From

• va·cation·er va·cation·ist noun
• va·cation·less adjective
• mini·va·cation noun
• preva·cation noun adjective

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

Smerilli ended a beach vacation early, ran home and read the first part of the script.

From Los Angeles Times

Friends tell him he needs to take a vacation once in a while, he says, but he has no interest.

From Los Angeles Times

“I can’t relate to desperation,” she sang — a lie, of course, but a perfect rhyme for “My give-a-f—s are on vacation.”

From Los Angeles Times

As for the quiz,”Cloaked Hillary” and the vacationing dolphin were from the Onion.

From Los Angeles Times

Capitol and would later be flown outside the vacation home of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito.

From Salon

Related Words

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