holiday
HO-lih-day
Holiday (noun) means a day set aside for a religious, cultural, or national celebration, often free from work. Example: “Thanksgiving is a major holiday in the United States.”
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."
"Bonfire night is not an official holiday, but many people celebrate it."
"The bank closed for the national holiday and reopened the next morning."
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."
"We spent our holiday walking along the coast and eating ice cream."
verb
1
Chiefly British: to take time off for leisure or travel.
"They usually holiday in the south of France every August."
"We holidayed in a little seaside town last summer and barely checked our phones."
"Do you fancy holidaying somewhere warm this year, or staying closer to home?"
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.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
bank holiday
summer holiday
go on holiday
public holiday
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like holiday.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- holidays
- Third person singular
- holidays
- Past tense
- holidayed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for holiday
See all rhymes for holiday →Frequently asked questions
What does “holiday” mean?
The word “holiday” means a day set aside for a religious, cultural, or national celebration, often free from work. In plain terms, a day (or period) of celebration or rest from normal work.
How do you pronounce “holiday”?
“Holiday” is pronounced HO-lih-day (/ˈhɑləˌdeɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “holiday” in a sentence?
Here is “holiday” used in a sentence: “Thanksgiving is a major holiday in the United States.”
What part of speech is “holiday”?
Depending on how it is used, “holiday” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “holiday” come from?
The word “holiday” comes from Old English. From Old English hāligdæg, literally "holy day," originally referring to a religious feast day before broadening to any day of rest or celebration.
Is “holiday” a common word?
“Holiday” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “holiday” have?
“Holiday” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a day set aside for a religious, cultural, or national celebration, often free from work.
What is the difference between a holiday and a vacation?
In American English, a holiday is a special day of celebration, such as Christmas or Independence Day, while a vacation is a stretch of time off for travel or rest. In British English, holiday covers both meanings: Britons take a holiday where Americans take a vacation.
What are the types of holidays?
Holidays generally fall into three groups: religious, such as Christmas, Eid, or Diwali; cultural or traditional, such as Valentine's Day; and national or public holidays, such as an Independence Day. Public holidays are officially recognised and are often days off from work and school.
What is the difference between a public holiday and a religious holiday?
A public or national holiday is an official day off established by a government, such as New Year's Day. A religious holiday marks a sacred event or observance within a faith, such as Easter or Ramadan. Some religious holidays are also public holidays, but many are not.
What is an example of a holiday?
Common examples include Christmas and Easter, which are religious; Thanksgiving and Independence Day, which are national; and Valentine's Day or Halloween, which are cultural. Many countries also mark a national day tied to independence or an important historical event, usually observed as an official day off.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include holiday:
