What does holiday mean?
A holiday is a day or period set apart from ordinary work, school, or duties, usually for rest, celebration, travel, or recreation. In British English it is the standard general term for time off work, while American speakers often prefer vacation, although holiday remains familiar and is especially common for a public celebration or day of commemoration. A holiday may be private, such as an annual family break, or officially designated, as with a public or bank holiday. The word also has a religious sense for a day observed as holy, preserving its historical connection with religious festivals. In contemporary use, the word is broadly neutral and appears in both practical statements about time away and references to national or cultural observances. Its flexibility allows it to cover anything from a single commemorative day to a prolonged leisure period, while its long history links modern vacations and public festivities to the older religious meaning of a sacred day.
A day or period away from work, school, or ordinary duties, taken for rest, recreation, travel, or celebration; also a day designated for commemoration or public observance.
"The school is closed for the summer holiday."
In British English, holiday is the usual general term for leisure time away from work; in American English, vacation is often preferred for that sense.
To spend a holiday or period of leisure away from one’s usual activities.
"They holidayed at a small village near the sea."
The verb is most common in British English and is usually used with an adverb such as abroad or at home.
The standard plural of the noun, used for individual days off, multiple public observances, or a period of leisure.
"The bank holidays vary from year to year."
Holiday began as a “holy day” and grew increasingly secular—today one word can mean both a solemn observance and a week at the beach.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does holiday come from?
The word comes from Old English hāligdæg, literally “holy day,” formed from hālig (“holy”) and dæg (“day”). In Middle English it appeared in forms such as holyday, and the shorter modern spelling holiday gradually replaced them. Its vocabulary belongs to a wider family of sacred terms represented in English by words such as holy, hallow, saint, and sanctuary.
Related word forms
How holiday is actually used
The word is neutral in register and common in both formal and informal contexts. In British English, holiday is the usual general term for leisure time away from work, whereas American English more often uses vacation for that sense; public holiday is widely understood in both varieties.
Easily confused with holiday
Vacation is especially common in American English for a leisure trip or period away from work, while holiday is the usual general term in British English and also commonly denotes a public holiday.
A holy day is a religious observance, whereas a holiday now more often means a day off or a festive public occasion.