sabbatical

adjective sab·bat·i·cal \ sə-ˈba-ti-kəl \

variants: or less commonly sabbatic play \sə-ˈba-tik\

|Updated on: 13 Jul 2018

Examples: sabbatical in a Sentence

Editor's Note: The History of sabbatical and sabbath: Take a Break

Definition of sabbatical

1 : of or relating to a sabbatical year

2 : of or relating to the sabbath

sabbatical laws

See sabbatical defined for kids

Recent Examples of sabbatical from the Web

Eligible consultants can take part in a sabbatical program that allows eligible consultants to take up to three months off to pursue their own personal passions and adventures, with a stipend.

— azcentral, "Top Companies to Work for in Arizona 2018-Large Companies," 7 June 2018
So began our family's sabbatical summer to Kauai, Hawaii; Hokkaido, Japan; northern Italy; and Norway.

— bonnie tsui, Redbook, "What It's Like to Travel Through 4 Countries In 3 Months With 2 Kids," 23 May 2017
If selected as the Golden Apple Award recipient, Ahern will receive a $5,000 cash award and be provided with a tuition-free, spring quarter sabbatical to study at Northwestern University.

— yadira sanchez olson, Lake County News-Sun, "'I want to grow up to be like her': Students praise Waukegan teacher named Golden Apple finalist," 16 Feb. 2018
After a couple of years sabbatical Heynckes was reappointed Bayern's coach in October 2017 - for a fourth time - after Carlos Ancelotti's sacking.

— SI.com, "Jupp Heynckes 'Turned Down' Enticing Coaching Offer From Chelsea After 2013 Bayern Munich Treble," 22 Jan. 2018
Benefits offered at Charles Schwab include automatic enrollment in the 401(k) plan with company match, an employee stock ownership program, matching charitable gifts, and a sabbatical program for eligible workers after five years of service.

— lisa greim, The Denver Post, "Top large workplace 2017: USAA gets high marks for its mission to aid customers and employees," 7 Apr. 2017
Pleased with the rejuvenating results, Mr. Anderszewski, who plays a solo recital at Carnegie Hall on Friday, Feb. 17, took another sabbatical five years later, an extended break of 16 months.

— anthony tommasini, New York Times, "A Pianist’s Warsaw: ‘Fascination and Pain’," 10 Feb. 2017
DU Law professor Ann Vessels started the Veterans Advocacy Project in August 2015 after forming it during a sabbatical semester.

— joe vaccarelli, The Denver Post, "DU law students get hands-on experience helping veterans," 24 Jan. 2017
So began our family's sabbatical summer to Kauai, Hawaii; Hokkaido, Japan; northern Italy; and Norway.

— bonnie tsui, Redbook, "What It's Like to Travel Through 4 Countries In 3 Months With 2 Kids," 23 May 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of sabbatical

Late Latin sabbaticus, from Greek sabbatikos, from sabbaton

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1599

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Education Terms

baccalaureate, colloquium, corequisite, dissertation, monograph, pedant, practicum, survey course, thesis

sabbatical

noun

Definition of sabbatical

1 : sabbatical year 2

2 : leave 1b

3 : a break or change from a normal routine (as of employment)

See sabbatical defined for English-language learners

Examples of sabbatical in a Sentence

Several professors will be taking sabbaticals this year.
She recently returned to work after a two-year sabbatical from her acting career.
Several professors will be on sabbatical this year.

Recent Examples of sabbatical from the Web

Lahey will return after a one-year sabbatical to teach philosophy.

— alison kuznitz, courant.com, "A Visionary Leader, President John Lahey Casts His Final Shadow On Quinnipiac University," 2 July 2018
Maryland’s job opened when Kevin Anderson went on a six-month sabbatical in October and stepped down in April.

— marc narducci, Philly.com, "Temple AD Patrick Kraft loses out on Maryland job," 25 June 2018
Jordan famously took a sabbatical to play baseball and came back for a second three–peat.

— the crossover staff, SI.com, "What's LeBron's Best Option This Summer? Debating 10 Teams and One Crazy Idea," 5 June 2018
Additionally, Lisle’s Veggie Fest is taking a sabbatical this summer but will participate with a booth in the Eyes to the Skies food court.

— annie alleman, Naperville Sun, "Eyes to the Skies floats back to Lisle June 29-July 1," 21 June 2018
Heatherton had been on a sabbatical beginning in July 2017.

— deirdre fernandes, BostonGlobe.com, "Dartmouth professor in misconduct probe will retire and be barred from college events," 14 June 2018
That logic might be understandable had Williams spent the last 16 months on sabbatical, focusing on some other endeavor.

— nancy armour, USA TODAY, "French Open is punishing Serena Williams for having a baby," 21 May 2018
Pizam, who is currently paid is an annual salary of $272,263 as dean, will take a one-year sabbatical and then return to teaching at UCF.

— gabrielle russon, OrlandoSentinel.com, "UCF hospitality school chief retiring, honored at celebration," 6 June 2018
In some ways, my time in Tehran was the best sabbatical one academic could wish for.

— richard stone, Science | AAAS, "An Iranian researcher went home to serve his country. Now, ‘I realize that I’m lucky I’m not in prison.’," 24 May 2018

The History of sabbatical and sabbath: Take a Break

We tend to think of sabbatical in academic terms, as a school year free from teaching duties that can be devoted to research, travel, and writing. Traditionally, this occurs every seventh year. Because of this scholarly context, we may easily miss what is hiding in plain sight: that sabbatical is related to Sabbath, which refers to the Biblical day of rest, or the seventh day. We trace the origins of both sabbatical and Sabbath to the Greek word sabbaton. Sabbaton itself traces to the Hebrew word shabbāth, meaning “rest.”

The Old Testament refers to God’s “day of rest” most famously in Genesis, but Sabbath referring to an entire year of rest is mentioned in Leviticus (25:3-5):

Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof;

But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.

That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: for it is a year of rest unto the land.

Sabbatical is also used as an adjective to refer specifically to the rules governing the observance of the Sabbath, as in “sabbatical laws.”