vacation

1 of 2

noun

va·​ca·​tion vā-ˈkā-shən 

və-

often attributive

1

: a period spent away from home or business in travel or recreation

had a restful vacation at the beach

2

a

: a scheduled period during which activity (as of a court or school) is suspended

b

: a period of exemption from work granted to an employee

3

: a respite or a time of respite from something : intermission

4

: an act or an instance of vacating

vacation

2 of 2

verb

vacationed; vacationing vā-ˈkā-sh(ə-)niŋ 

və-

intransitive verb

: to take or spend a vacation

vacationed at the shore

vacationer

vā-ˈkā-sh(ə-)nər 

və-

noun

Synonyms

Noun

• break
• holiday [chiefly British]
• hols [British]
• leave
• recess

Verb

• holiday

Examples of vacation in a Sentence

Noun

Family vacations were a high point in my childhood.

When are you taking vacation this year?

Employees are entitled to 120 hours of paid vacation.

I don't have any vacation days left.

We have a one-week vacation in February.

The university will be closed for Christmas vacation.

Verb

hoping to vacation in Spain this summer

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Want a two-month vacation across seven European countries with private wine tours, helicopter transfers, yacht charters, a balloon ride, and a Sting concert? —Meredith Lepore, Robb Report, 18 July 2024

All that being said, take the good memories from your vacation and leave the rest. —Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 18 July 2024

Verb

The trend, said Dr. Erik Berg, a county public health consultant, looks similar to those that have occurred during previous summers as new virus variants circulate among a vacationing population. —Paul Sisson, The Mercury News, 12 July 2024

The film it’s based on, written and directed by Alan Alda, centers on three couples who vacation together each season and the changes in the group dynamic when one of couples splits up and the man brings a much younger woman on subsequent trips. —Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English vacacioun, borrowed from Anglo-French vacacion, borrowed from Latin vacātiōn-, vacātiō "exemption from service, respite from work," from vacāre "to be empty, be free, have leisure" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns — more at vacant

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

1883, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing vacation

• long vacation
• vacation home

Kids Definition

vacation

1 of 2 noun

va·​ca·​tion vā-ˈkā-shən 

və-

1

: a period during which activity (as of a school) is stopped for a time

2

: a period spent away from home or business in travel or amusement

vacation

2 of 2 verb

vacationed; vacationing

-sh(ə-)niŋ

: to take or spend a vacation

vacationer

-sh(ə-)nər 

noun

Legal Definition

vacation

noun

va·​ca·​tion

1

: a period in which activity or work is suspended

specifically : an interval between judicial terms

2

: an act or instance of vacating

vacation of a judgment