holiday

1 of 2

noun

hol·​i·​day ˈhä-lə-ˌdā 

British usually ˈhä-lə-dē

1

: holy day

an important Muslim holiday

2

: a day on which one is exempt from work

specifically : a day marked by a general suspension of work in commemoration of an event

will be closed for the July 4th holiday

a national holiday

plans for the holiday weekend

3

chiefly British : vacation

—often used in the phrase on holiday

going on holiday

—often plural

spent the summer holidays in Spain

4

: a period of exemption or relief

corporations enjoying a tax holiday

holiday

2 of 2

verb

holidayed; holidaying; holidays

intransitive verb

: to take or spend a vacation or holiday (see holiday entry 1 sense 2) especially in travel or at a resort : vacation

will holiday this year at the shore

holidayer noun

Synonyms of holiday

Noun

• vacation

Verb

• vacation

Examples of holiday in a Sentence

Noun

July 4 is a national holiday in the U.S.

The stock market is closed tomorrow because it's a holiday.

She'll have four weeks' holiday next year.

We're planning on taking a holiday in the Caribbean.

Verb

She likes holidaying in the Caribbean.

saw kangaroos while holidaying in Australia

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There are Icon glasses for every season, holiday, milestone, aesthetic, and mood. — Francesca Krempa, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026

Upon landing at the German airport from New York, the bag with holiday gifts appeared on the carousel, but the beige suitcase with her clothing did not. — Andrea Sachs, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026

Verb

The disruption has impacted some Americans trying to get home after holidaying in Europe. — Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026

Fearing Evolène would either become another Zermatt or fade away as younger generations moved to larger cities, a Swiss family that long holidayed here invested in a village-wide revival. — Jen Murphy, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Old English hāligdæg, from hālig holy + dæg day

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1839, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing holiday

• bank holiday
• busman's holiday
• floating holiday
• holiday season
• holiday weekend
• legal holiday
• package holiday
• pre-holiday
• Roman holiday
• state holiday
• the holiday season

Rhymes for holiday

• aaa
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• axillae
• baa
• beaujolais
• bouvier
• breakaway

Kids Definition

holiday

noun

hol·​i·​day

ˈhäl-ə-ˌdā

1

: holy day

2

: a day of freedom from work

especially : a day of celebration or remembrance fixed by law

3

chiefly British : a period of relaxation : vacation

holiday verb

holidayer noun

Biographical Definition

Holiday

biographical name

Hol·​i·​day ˈhä-lə-ˌdā 

Eleanora 1915–1959 Billie American jazz singer