holiday

noun hol·i·day \ ˈhä-lə-ˌdā , British usually ˈhä-lə-dē \

|Updated on: 8 Jun 2018

Definition of holiday

1 : holy day

an important Muslim holiday

2 : a day on which one is exempt from work; specifically : a day marked by a general suspension of work in commemoration of an event

will be closed for the July 4th holiday

a national holiday

plans for the holiday weekend

3 chiefly British : vacation —often used in the phrase on holiday

going on holiday

—often used in plural

spent the summer holidays in Spain

4 : a period of exemption or relief

corporations enjoying a tax holiday

See holiday defined for English-language learners

See holiday defined for kids

Examples of holiday in a Sentence

July 4 is a national holiday in the U.S.
The stock market is closed tomorrow because it's a holiday.
She'll have four weeks' holiday next year.
We're planning on taking a holiday in the Caribbean.

Recent Examples of holiday from the Web

Such was the case with Wildwood officers who were patrolling the sand on the holiday weekend.

— barbara boyer, Philly.com, "The cop in the Wildwood beach arrest that went viral on video was a temporary officer. Jersey Shore towns use them every summer," 1 June 2018
Outrage grew on social media over the holiday weekend as well when a report surfaced that the federal government did not know the location of about 1,500 migrant children who had been placed with hosts under the Obama administration.

— kate morrissey, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Protesters rally outside San Diego ICE office, condemn family separation," 1 June 2018
Lyft’s driver hub in Long Island City is unexpectedly busy for a Friday afternoon before a holiday weekend.

— madeline buxton, refinery29.com, "The Pipeline: The First-Gen College Student Who Became A Lyft Community Manager," 31 May 2018
And then an electrical issue, which tripped a circuit breaker and knocked out power to the cooler where his perishables are stored, forcing the business to close on a sunny Memorial Day, putting a dent in his holiday weekend.

— jim riccioli, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Waukesha customers helped save John's Root Beer in 2017. Now John is looking for a better season free of road construction," 30 May 2018
Over the course of just the holiday weekend, the lymph node seemed to double in size beneath her fingers.

— lisa sanders, New York Times, "Had Two Diseases Struck at Once?," 30 May 2018
Dylan Payne, 24, was arrested over the holiday weekend and is currently being held for first-degree assault.

— tim fitzsimons /, NBC News, "Suspect held in stabbing of gay couple in Denver," 29 May 2018
The immigration checkpoint over the holiday weekend was set up about 90 miles south of the Canadian border in a small town in the White Mountains.

— akilah johnson, BostonGlobe.com, "17 arrested at immigration checkpoint on I-93 in New Hampshire," 29 May 2018
And according to Kim Kardashian West’s tweets, Crystal Gardenia, the perfume that Kim had begun her holiday weekend promoting, has sold out.

— jasmine sanders, The Cut, "Why Is Kim Kardashian Feuding With One of Kanye West’s Collaborators?," 29 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'holiday.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of holiday

Middle English, from Old English hāligdæg, from hālig holy + dæg day

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Calendar Terms

antedate, estival, gloaming, luster, sesquicentennial

holiday

verb

Definition of holiday

holidayed; holidaying; holidays

intransitive verb

: to take or spend a vacation or holiday (see ¹holiday 2) especially in travel or at a resort : vacation

will holiday this year at the shore

—

holidayer

noun

See holiday defined for English-language learners

Examples of holiday in a Sentence

She likes holidaying in the Caribbean.
saw kangaroos while holidaying in Australia

Recent Examples of holiday from the Web

The hot weather likely drew a few pesky and uninvited guests to holiday picnics this past weekend.

— suzanne baker, Naperville Sun, "It's time to start thinking about mosquito deterrents," 29 May 2018
He was also mocked for dressing his family in Bollywood garb on a trip to India, and holidaying on a private Caribbean island.

— The Economist, "Anti-elitist politicians in Canada are courting immigrants," 19 Apr. 2018
Damon and Hemsworth are no strangers to holidaying together.

— alexia fernandez, PEOPLE.com, "Chris Hemsworth and Matt Damon Celebrate Easter Together with Their Families in Australia," 2 Apr. 2018
Charles and his sons had been holidaying in Klosters just before the wedding and had posed for the annual photo call with the media, which none of them enjoys.

— penny junor, Vanities, "How Camilla Won Over the Queen and Became the Duchess of Cornwall," 28 Mar. 2018
The couple that holidays together must be real, right?!

— noelle devoe, Seventeen, "A Complete Timeline of Cole Sprouse and Lili Reinhart's Relationship," 9 Mar. 2018
In 2002, the girls were reported to be holidaying in Sardinia with Berlusconi’s daughter Barbara.

— owen matthews, Newsweek, "The Top Secret Family Life of Vladimir Putin," 19 Aug. 2014
Rumours have been flying around regarding Ozil since the summer about a potential new girlfriend on the scene, when the pair were snapped holidaying together, and the latest images confirm those rumours.

— SI.com, "PHOTOS: Arsenal Star Mesut Ozil Confirms New Relationship With Stunning Former Miss Turkey," 17 Dec. 2017
The show features fall and holiday home décor items, accessories and food items.

— laura groch, sandiegouniontribune.com, "North County School News, Sept. 14," 14 Sep. 2017

Origin and Etymology of holiday

see ¹holiday

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1869

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Holiday

biographical name Hol·i·day \ ˈhä-lə-ˌdā \

Definition of Holiday

Eleanora 1915–1959 Billie American jazz singer

HOLIDAY Defined for English Language Learners

holiday

noun

Definition of holiday for English Language Learners

: a special day of celebration : a day when most people do not have to work

holiday

verb

Definition of holiday for English Language Learners

: to spend a holiday in or at a particular place

HOLIDAY Defined for Kids

holiday

noun hol·i·day \ ˈhä-lə-ˌdā \

Definition of holiday for Students

1 : a special day of celebration during which schools and businesses are often closed

2 chiefly British : ¹vacation

Learn More about holiday

See words that rhyme with holiday Spanish Central: Translation of holiday Nglish: Translation of holiday for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of holiday for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about holiday

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holiday

Definition of holiday

Examples of holiday in a Sentence

Recent Examples of holiday from the Web

Origin and Etymology of holiday

Other Calendar Terms

holiday

Definition of holiday

holidayer

Examples of holiday in a Sentence

Recent Examples of holiday from the Web

Origin and Etymology of holiday

Holiday

Definition of Holiday

Phrases Related to HOLIDAY

Related Phrases

HOLIDAY Defined for English Language Learners

holiday

Definition of holiday for English Language Learners

holiday

Definition of holiday for English Language Learners

HOLIDAY Defined for Kids

holiday

Definition of holiday for Students

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