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 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 So instead of avoiding the sabbatical, approach it strategically. — Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 26 May 2026 The filings show City Controller Kenneth Mejia has a far smaller war chest than challenger Zach Sokoloff, who is on sabbatical from his role as a senior vice president at Hackman Capital Partners. — Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 22 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
  • Melvin has a vacation scheduled for next week and will not be hosting Today.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 17 July 2026
  • Argentina’s national stadium is Estadio Mâs Monumental in Buenos Aires, but the home of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons might make a case to be their new favorite vacation spot, if not a second home.
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
Definition of vacation
Noun
  • According to the laws of the game, the break between halves should be no longer than 15 minutes but FIFA has been quite vague about the rules for this particular tournament.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 19 July 2026
  • The Liberty were unable to find much offensive success after the break.
    — James Boyd, New York Times, 19 July 2026
Definition of break
Noun
  • The city of Dallas announced Tuesday that General Fund employees will be required to take at least three furlough days to address the 2026 budget shortfall.
    — Briauna Brown, CBS News, 30 June 2026
  • According to the city, on the three dates, non-uniform employees funded by the city's general fund will be required to participate in the furlough, and the days will be recorded as leave without pay.
    — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 30 June 2026
Definition of furlough
Noun
  • She will also be compensated for 20 unused vacation days and 15 personal leave days.
    — Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
  • Wilting when soil moisture seems adequate, browning brittle leaves, and stunted growth can all be signs of too much fertilizer.
    — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2026
Definition of leave
Noun
  • The property’s cold-weather setup—with igloos and seasonal programming, like holiday light trails and courtyard bonfires—offers a slower side of Montauk that most summer visitors never see.
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026
  • The Oaktree Capital Management cofounder and his wife, Nancy, have owned La Posada and Sa Punta for more than a decade, using the adjoining properties as holiday retreats.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 15 July 2026
Definition of holiday
Noun
  • Once that classroom discussion begins, academics will surely have some more words for all the creative liberties Nolan’s movie takes.
    — Antonio Ferme, Variety, 18 July 2026
  • For all the culture-war debates about the liberties Nolan took in his casting, his most radical deviation from the text has to do with agency and who has it.
    — Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 17 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 21 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sabbatical

Nglish: Translation of sabbatical for Spanish Speakers

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