Roman holiday

noun

1

: a time of debauchery or of sadistic enjoyment

2

: a destructive or tumultuous disturbance : riot

Word History

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of Roman holiday was in 1818

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

roman green

Roman holiday

Roman hyacinth

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Roman holiday.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Roman%20holiday. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

fidelity

Listen to the pronunciation of fidelity

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What’s the difference between ‘cemetery’ and ‘graveyard’?

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Popular in Wordplay

Skibidi, Mog & More: Gen Alpha Slang

13 Wonderful Words That You're Not Using (Yet)

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

Birds Say the Darndest Things

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Skibidi, Mog & More: Gen Alpha Slang

13 Wonderful Words That You're Not Using (Yet)