noun
holiday
HO-lih-day
noun
1
A day set aside for a religious, cultural, or national celebration, often free from work.
"Thanksgiving is a major holiday in the United States."
2
Chiefly British: a period of time off from work or school, especially spent traveling or relaxing.
"They booked a two-week holiday in Portugal."
"The children were excited for the summer holidays."
verb
1
Chiefly British: to take time off for leisure or travel.
"They usually holiday in the south of France every August."
How to Use Holiday
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA day (or period) of celebration or rest from normal work.
UK vs US
British English uses "holiday" the way American English uses "vacation" for a trip or time off; Americans reserve "holiday" mostly for specific calendar days like Christmas or Thanksgiving.
Common pairings
bank holiday
summer holiday
go on holiday
public holiday
Word Forms
holidayed past tense, holidays plural, holidays singular
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Thanksgiving is a major _____ in the United States.
Etymology
From Old English hāligdæg, literally "holy day," originally referring to a religious feast day before broadening to any day of rest or celebration.