as in vacation
a period of time during which someone does not work at their regular job
Several professors will be taking sabbaticals this year. She recently returned to work after a two-year sabbatical from her acting career.
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Recent Examples of sabbatical
The two-year break turned out to be a sabbatical as Jackson returned to Shoe Carnival in June 2025 as senior vice president, new business development.
—
Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 16 Feb. 2026
Taking a break from college to be a ski bum in Vail, Colorado, set Gregory Du Bois on a path of taking mini-sabbaticals throughout his corporate IT career.
—Colleen Newvine, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2026
In 2011, during a sabbatical in Spain, Zatorre met Josep Marco-Pallares, a neuroscientist at the University of Barcelona who studies how people respond to rewards.
—Shayla Love, New Yorker, 11 Feb. 2026
Mike McCarthy, Pittsburgh Steelers (13 points) The Steelers summoned the 62-year-old Pittsburgh native after his one-year sabbatical, and McCarthy will continue his distinguished coaching tour after leading the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys earlier in his career.
—Jeff Howe, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sabbatical
Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 16 Feb. 2026
Taking a break from college to be a ski bum in Vail, Colorado, set Gregory Du Bois on a path of taking mini-sabbaticals throughout his corporate IT career.
—Colleen Newvine, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2026
In 2011, during a sabbatical in Spain, Zatorre met Josep Marco-Pallares, a neuroscientist at the University of Barcelona who studies how people respond to rewards.
—Shayla Love, New Yorker, 11 Feb. 2026
Mike McCarthy, Pittsburgh Steelers (13 points) The Steelers summoned the 62-year-old Pittsburgh native after his one-year sabbatical, and McCarthy will continue his distinguished coaching tour after leading the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys earlier in his career.
—Jeff Howe, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sabbatical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sabbatical
Noun
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Disney World just announced five exciting new promotions for summer and into early fall, offering families multiple ways to potentially shave off hundreds of dollars from the total cost of their vacation.—
Carly Neil,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Don't wait for a vacation to treat yourself kindly.—
Kirah Tabourn,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Her youngest son Oliver, now 2, was born with a hole in his heart and needed surgery, sending her on a six-month social media break.—
David Oliver,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
That, more than anything else, is the lesson of this international break.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That is why programs allowing supervised or monitored furloughs exist.—
Sean Garcia Leys,
Oc Register,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The number of furlough days was determined by the employee's salary.—
Brian Maass,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Most dry grasses, dead leaves, and other tree litter could easily ignite and spread fire quickly.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Garnish with a pinch of thyme leaves.—
C.W. Cameron,
AJC.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Their annual festive holiday gift exchange spirals into a cutthroat game of Christmas carnage.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Americans in general, however, seem to love the Easter holiday.—
Nicole Russell,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The cost to individuals' liberty is also increasing.—
Martin Kaste,
NPR,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The show, criticized for liberties taken, will presumably depict the fatal crash.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sabbatical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sabbatical. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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