Definition of HOLIDAY

holiday

Meanings

Plural: holidays

Noun

  • leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
    • "we took a short holiday in Puerto Rico"
  • a day on which work is suspended by law or custom
    • "no mail is delivered on federal holidays"
    • "it's a good thing that New Year's was a holiday because everyone had a hangover"
  • A day on which a festival, religious event, or national celebration is traditionally observed.
  • A day declared free from work by the state or government.
  • A period of one or more days taken off work for leisure and often travel; often plural.
  • A period during which pupils do not attend their school; often plural; rarely used for students at university (usually: vacation).
  • A period during which, by agreement, the usual payments are not made.
  • A gap in coverage, e.g. of paint on a surface, or sonar imagery.

Verb

  • spend or take a vacation
  • To take a period of time away from work or study.
  • To spend a period of time in recreational travel.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English halyday, holyday, halidei, haliȝdei, from Old English hāliġdæġ (“holy day, Sabbath”), equivalent to holy + day. Compare West Frisian hjeldei (“holiday”), Danish helligdag (“holiday”), Norwegian helligdag (“holiday”), Swedish helgdag (“holiday, feast”).

Synonyms

annual leave, bank holiday, break, day off, feast day, getaway, holiday, holy day, lacuna, leave, leave of absence, national holiday, pause, recess, time away, time off, vac, vaca, vacation, vacay

Scrabble Score: 14

holiday is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
holiday is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
holiday is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 13

holiday is a valid Words With Friends word