Vacation Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)
Britannica Dictionary definition of VACATION
1
US
:
a period of time that a person spends away from home, school, or business usually in order to relax or travel
[count]
- We had a restful vacation [=(Brit) _holiday_] at the beach.
- Family vacations were a high point in my childhood.
[noncount]
— often used in the phrase on vacation
- I'll be on vacation [=(Brit) _on holiday_] next week.
- They're on vacation in Rome.
— often used before another noun
- We had to cancel our vacation plans.
- a popular vacation spot [=a place where many people like to travel]
- His parents have a beautiful vacation home [=a house that someone lives in during vacations] by the lake.
2
[noncount]
chiefly US
:
the number of days or hours per year for which an employer agrees to pay workers while they are not working
- When are you taking vacation this year?
- All employees are given three weeks vacation. [=they will be paid for 15 days that they do not work per year]
- Employees are entitled to 120 hours of paid vacation.
- I don't have any vacation days left.
3
[count]
a
US
:
a time when schools, colleges, and universities are closed
- winter/spring/summer vacation
- We have a one-week vacation in February.
- The university will be closed for Christmas/Easter vacation.
b
British
:
a time when universities and courts of law are closed
- She spent most of her long vacations [=summer vacations] at her parents' house.
Britannica Dictionary definition of VACATION
:
to go somewhere during a vacation
- He met her while he was vacationing [=(Brit) _holidaying_] abroad in Italy.