holiday
holiday Lexical Profile
holiday Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A specific day of festivity or recreation when ordinary business and work are suspended by law or custom.
"The bank will be closed on Monday because it is a national holiday."
British An extended period of leisure and recreation, especially one spent away from home or traveling.
"We are going on holiday to Spain for two weeks this summer."
• verb
British To spend a period of time away from home for rest or recreation.
"They holidayed in the south of France every August."
Word Nuance & Usage
In British English, 'holiday' frequently refers to an extended period of rest or travel (equivalent to the American 'vacation'), whereas in American English, it primarily denotes a specific legally or culturally recognized day off.
• Rhymes for holiday
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'hāligdæg', meaning 'holy day', originally referring to special religious days of rest and observance.