vacation
pronunciation
How to pronounce vacation in British English:
UK [veɪˈkeɪʃn , vəˈkeɪʃn]
How to pronounce vacation in American English:
US [veɪˈkeɪʃn , vəˈkeɪʃn]
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- Noun:
- leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
- the act of making something legally void
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- Verb:
- spend or take a vacation
Word Origin
- vacation (n.)
- late 14c., "freedom from obligations, leisure, release" (from some activity or occupation), from Old French vacacion "vacancy, vacant position" (14c.) and directly from Latin vacationem (nominative vacatio) "leisure, freedom, exemption, a being free from duty, immunity earned by service," noun of state from past participle stem of vacare "be empty, free, or at leisure" (see vain). Meanings "state of being unoccupied," "process of vacating" in English are early 15c. Meaning "formal suspension of activity, time in which there is an intermission of usual employment" (in reference to schools, courts, etc.) is recorded from mid-15c. As the U.S. equivalent of what in Britain is called a holiday, it is attested from 1878.
- vacation (v.)
- 1866, from vacation (n.). Related: Vacationed; vacationing.
Example
- 1. Amanda has a great series on family vacation planning .
- 2. She was about to leave on a two-week vacation .
- 3. It was really a painful vacation for mr. seymour .
- 4. You need a change of boss and probably a vacation .
- 5. Don 't take the company mobile and laptop on vacation .