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noun

sabbatical

suh-BA-tih-kuhl

Sabbatical (noun) means an extended break from one's regular work, often taken by academics or professionals to travel, study, or rest. Example: “She took a sabbatical to write her second novel.”

noun
1
An extended break from one's regular work, often taken by academics or professionals to travel, study, or rest.
"She took a sabbatical to write her second novel."
"After ten years at the firm, he was finally granted a sabbatical."
adj
1
Relating to or characteristic of such a period of leave.
"He spent his sabbatical year researching in Japan."

How to Use Sabbatical

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA planned extended leave from work, often a year, used for research, travel, or personal projects.

Common pairings
take a sabbatical sabbatical leave a year's sabbatical

Word Forms

sabbaticals plural

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She took a _____ to write her second novel.

Etymology

From Latin sabbaticus, ultimately from the same root as "Sabbath" — the idea of a period of rest built into a cycle.

Origin: Latin

sabbatic sabbatical leave

Rhymes for sabbatical

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “sabbatical” mean?

The word “sabbatical” means an extended break from one's regular work, often taken by academics or professionals to travel, study, or rest. In plain terms, a planned extended leave from work, often a year, used for research, travel, or personal projects.

How do you pronounce “sabbatical”?

“Sabbatical” is pronounced suh-BA-tih-kuhl ([səˈbæɾɪk(ə)ɫ] in IPA).

How do you use “sabbatical” in a sentence?

Here is “sabbatical” used in a sentence: “She took a sabbatical to write her second novel.”

What part of speech is “sabbatical”?

Depending on how it is used, “sabbatical” can be a noun and an adjective.

Where does the word “sabbatical” come from?

The word “sabbatical” comes from Latin. From Latin sabbaticus, ultimately from the same root as "Sabbath" — the idea of a period of rest built into a cycle.

How many meanings does “sabbatical” have?

“Sabbatical” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an extended break from one's regular work, often taken by academics or professionals to travel, study, or rest.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial