vacation

1 of 2

noun

va·​ca·​tion vā-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce vacation (audio)
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 How to pronounce vacation (audio)
və-

intransitive verb

: to take or spend a vacation
vacationed at the shore
vacationer noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Bob's Olive Garden mix-up isn't the first time an American has shared a culture shock after going on vacation. Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025 Discretionary expenses include things like entertainment, vacations and hobbies. Lynn Mayabb, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
Sitting at the counter or bar at a restaurant can be a good way to meet other travelers when vacationing alone. Lucy Handley, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2025 Elordi and Giannulli reportedly called it off in August 2022 but later reconciled and were seen vacationing together in Italy in June 2023. Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vacation

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of vacation was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vacation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vacation. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

vacation

1 of 2 noun
va·​ca·​tion vā-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce vacation (audio)
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 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

More from Merriam-Webster on vacation

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