vacation
vay-KAY-shun
/veɪˈkeɪʃən/
An extended period of leisure and recreation, especially one spent away from home or work.
Strongly implies leisure, travel, and a break from routine. In American English, it's common for a single person; in British English, 'holiday' is more common for this meaning.
The story behind the word. Our word 'vacation' comes from the Latin word 'vacationem', meaning 'leisure' or 'freedom from'. This, in turn, is derived from 'vacare', which meant 'to be empty' or 'to be free'. So, when you're on vacation, you're literally 'free from' your usual duties, leaving your mind empty of work worries and open for relaxation!
Word relationships
- holiday: Often interchangeable, but 'holiday' can also refer to public holidays or religious observances.
- break: Shorter and less formal than a vacation.
- work: Productive activity, especially physical or mental effort done to achieve a purpose or result.
- labor: Work, especially hard physical work.
Commonly confused with
- sabbatical: A 'sabbatical' is usually a longer, often paid, leave for professional development or research, not purely leisure.
Word family
- vacationer (noun): A person who is on vacation.
- vacationing (verb (present participle)): Engaging in a vacation.
Collocations
- summer vacation
- family vacation
- take a vacation
- go on vacation
- vacation spot
Idioms & expressions
- vacation brain (a state of mind where one is relaxed and not focused on work)
Example sentences
- "We're planning a two-week vacation to the Caribbean next summer." Planning a trip.
- "After months of hard work, a relaxing vacation was exactly what she needed to clear her head." Reflecting on past experiences.
Memory hook
VACATION: 'VAst CAtions' of time for fun! VACATION = Empty of work.
When not to use
Don't use 'vacation' if the time off is for illness, family emergency, or professional development, as it implies leisure.
Fun facts
- The concept of paid vacation for workers became widespread in the 20th century.
- In British English, 'holiday' is more commonly used to mean 'vacation'.
Explore more words
getaway, cruise, excursion, sabbatical, recreational, honeymoon
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