national holiday

noun

1. a holiday that is observed throughout a nation.
2. a holiday that is legally established by a national government rather than by a municipal or state government.

Word History and Origins

Origin of national holiday¹

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70

Example Sentences

Dorothy then watches as the Munchkins all but make her arrival to Oz a national holiday in real time, complete with a Lollipop Guild salute.

From Salon

Among her many achievements throughout her career, Jackson Lee is perhaps best known for helping to lead federal efforts to protect women from domestic violence, and for working to make sure that Juneteenth will forever be recognized as a national holiday, which President Joe Biden took time from his period of convalescence, after being diagnosed with COVID, to recognize.

From Salon

It was timed to fall between a national holiday and the weekend, on a day that many people in South Korea planned to take as vacation.

From New York Times

President Richard Nixon made Father’s Day a national holiday in 1972.

From Seattle Times

The vast majority of the nearly 28 million registered voters in the country of 62 million are expected to go to the polls across South Africa’s nine provinces on Wednesday, which is a national holiday.

From Seattle Times