vacation

 
Pronunciation: /vəˈkeɪʃ(ə)n, veɪ-/

noun

  • 1a fixed holiday period between terms in universities and law courts: the Easter vacation
  • North American a holiday: he took a vacation in the south of France people come here on vacation
  • 2 [mass noun] the action of leaving something one previously occupied: his marriage was the reason for the vacation of his fellowship

verb

[no object] North American
  • take a holiday: I was vacationing in Europe with my family

Derivatives

vacationer

noun (North American)

vacationist

noun (North American)

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin vacatio(n-), from vacare 'be unoccupied' (see vacate)