sick leave

noun

1

: an absence from work permitted because of illness

2

: the number of days per year for which an employer agrees to pay employees who are sick

Examples of sick leave in a Sentence

employee benefits such as vacation time and sick leave

We are allotted three weeks annual sick leave.

He's been on sick leave since last Thursday.

Recent Examples on the Web

And last month, Oxfam noted, Missouri’s governor signed a law overturning provisions of Proposition A, which would have provided paid sick leave and raised the minimum wage. —Josie Cox, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025

In Friedman’s fourth season, then-principal trombone Robert Lambert went on a sick leave that became permanent. —Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025

Boeing's original proposal included a 20% general wage increase over four years and a $5,000 ratification bonus, as well as more vacation time and sick leave. —Angela Christy, Reuters, 3 Aug. 2025

Some of them go to support Norway’s extensive welfare system, which provides free education and health care, subsidized child care and generous sick leave. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 30 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1820, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sick leave

• achieve
• believe
• conceive
• deceive
• naive
• perceive
• receive
• relieve
• reprieve
• retrieve
• breve
• cleave

Medical Definition

sick leave

noun

1

: an absence from work permitted because of illness

2

: the number of days per year for which an employer agrees to pay employees who are sick