vacation

English

/vəˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/, /veɪˈkeɪʃən/

noun
Definitions
  • Freedom from some business or activity.
  • (obsolete) Free time given over to a specific purpose; occupation, activity.
  • A period during which official activity or business is formally suspended; an official holiday from university, law courts etc.
  • (North America) A holiday; a stretch of leisure time away from work or duty and devoted to rest or pleasure.
  • The act of vacating something; moving out.
  • (US) The act of making legally void.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English vacation derived from vacacioun derived from Old French vacacion derived from Latin vacātiō (privilege, freedom).

Origin

Latin

vacātiō

Gloss

privilege, freedom

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms