What does sabbatical mean?
A sabbatical is an extended, usually approved break from work, study, or another demanding occupation. It is commonly taken for rest, travel, research, creative work, or personal development, and it may last from a few months to a full academic or calendar year. Unlike an ordinary holiday, a sabbatical often has an official structure: an employee or scholar receives leave, may continue to receive some form of pay, and may be expected to undertake professional or personal development before returning. The word is particularly common in universities, where professors regularly use sabbaticals for research and writing, but it also applies to leave taken by people in many other professions. Its associations with rest and renewal reflect its name, which comes from the Sabbath, the traditional day of weekly rest. Today, it conveys deliberate disengagement from routine rather than a brief recreational escape.
A period of extended leave from work, study, or professional responsibilities, taken for rest, travel, study, or personal development.
"She took a sabbatical to explore sustainable farming and spend more time with her family."
Usually a formally arranged period of leave, especially at universities or in professional employment.
Relating to or constituting a sabbatical.
"The library published an account of his sabbatical research in environmental policy."
Common in phrases such as “sabbatical leave,” “sabbatical year,” and “sabbatical travel.”
Used for separate periods of leave granted or taken by different people.
"Several colleagues arranged sabbaticals during the summer."
A sabbatical literally borrows its name from the Sabbath, transforming a day of rest into a life-changing break from routine.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sabbatical come from?
The word comes from Latin, where sabbatical was formed from the Hebrew term for the Sabbath, the weekly day of rest. It entered English in the early 17th century in the sense of “of or relating to the Sabbath.” The modern sense of a period of extended leave developed much later, especially in academic and institutional contexts.
How sabbatical is actually used
The term is especially associated with universities and other professional institutions, where it often denotes a formally approved period of paid or partly paid leave. In British English, it may also be used more broadly for a long holiday or temporary withdrawal from work.
Easily confused with sabbatical
A sabbatical is a period of leave from work or study, whereas sabbatic means relating to the Sabbath or to a period of rest more generally.