sabbatical

noun

Definition of sabbaticalnext
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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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of sabbatical The very mission of my sabbatical was to examine exactly this question. — Robert B. Tucker, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 How to put this relationship advice into practice The research doesn’t demand skydiving or a six-month sabbatical. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2026 At arguably the height of his career, Edwards took a sabbatical from Nike in 2010 to open Pensole, North America’s only footwear-specific design academy. — Lindsay Schnell, New York Times, 11 June 2026 DiDonna also identified the moments when sabbaticals tend to land best. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for sabbatical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sabbatical
  1. vacation
  2. break
  3. furlough
  4. leave
  5. holiday
  6. liberty
Noun
  • Trustee Shulamit Kotzer, 55, was born in Jew Town and spent vacations there after moving to Israel at age 2.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Starring Sandler and frequent collaborators out of his Happy Madison universe, the Grown Ups franchise revolves around a set of childhood friends who are brought back together as adults over the course of a summer vacation.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of vacation
Noun
  • The three took a mother-daughter trip to Universal Studios in California during Haley Joy and Hope’s winter break from school.
    — Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The service break Sabalenka conceded in the final game was her sixth.
    — Lukas Weese, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of break
Noun
  • The district could be forced into hiring freezes, spending restrictions, furloughs, program reductions or massive midyear layoffs after students have already formed relationships with their teachers and support staff.
    — Angel Gutierrez, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026
  • So Parker telephoned the base posing as the doctor of Adams’ supposedly ailing mother and talked the young soldier’s superiors into issuing an emergency furlough.
    — Dan Kelly July 28, Kansas City Star, 28 July 2026
Definition of furlough
Noun
  • More specifically, nutmeg and cloves add subtle warmth, while black pepper and bay leaves add a sharp and herbaceous undertone.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Pests and Disease Aphids and other sap-sucking insects can drain crepe myrtle sap and spread sooty mold, while leaf spot is a fungal issue that can weaken plants, impair blooming, and leave unsightly splotches on plant leaves.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of leave
Noun
  • Braun first suspended the gasoline usage tax in April, then expanded the gas tax holiday to include the gasoline excise tax in May.
    — Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Budget-friendly summer holidays means more cash for school supplies and uniforms.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of holiday
Noun
  • What games get right Despite their liberties, space cleanup games do hit the mark in a number of areas.
    — Alan Bradley, Space.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The group was tasked with publishing a report on the history and state of religious liberty in the nation by July 4, 2026.
    — BrieAnna J. Frank, USA Today, 28 July 2026
Definition of liberty

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Cite this Entry

“Sabbatical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sabbatical. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sabbatical

Nglish: Translation of sabbatical for Spanish Speakers

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