sick leave: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal / Business
Quick answer
What does “sick leave” mean?
A period of time when an employee is officially allowed to be away from work due to illness.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A period of time when an employee is officially allowed to be away from work due to illness.
Formal permission for absence from work due to personal or family illness, typically compensated according to employer policy or legal requirements.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The concept is identical. The phrase 'sick day(s)' is more common in American English for short-term absences, while 'sick leave' often refers to a longer-term, formal policy. In UK English, 'sick leave' is the standard umbrella term.
Connotations
Neutral/formal administrative term in both. No significant difference in connotation.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English as the default term. In US English, 'sick day(s)' and 'sick leave' are both common, with 'sick leave' often used for more serious/long-term situations or in official HR contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “sick leave” in a Sentence
[Employee] + be/take/go on + sick leave[Employer] + grant/approve/deny + sick leave + to + [employee][Employee] + return from + sick leaveVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sick leave” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I need to sick-leave that request through HR. (Very rare/innovative)
American English
- The system allows you to sick-leave a case. (Very rare/innovative)
adjective
British English
- The sick-leave policy was updated last quarter. (Attributive use)
- She is on sick-leave entitlement.
American English
- Please review the sick-leave documentation. (Attributive use)
- He has sick-leave benefits.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in HR policies, employment contracts, and workplace communications to denote formal, approved absence due to health.
Academic
Rare; might appear in studies of labour law, organisational behaviour, or public health.
Everyday
Common in conversations about work and health, e.g., 'I had to take sick leave last week.'
Technical
A specific term in labour law and human resources management, often with statutory definitions and entitlements.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sick leave”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sick leave”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sick leave”
- Using it as a countable noun incorrectly (e.g., 'I took a sick leave' – better: 'I took some sick leave' or 'I went on sick leave').
- Confusing 'sick leave' (formal) with 'sick day' (often informal/short-term).
- Misspelling as 'sickleaf'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Sick leave' is the permission or period of absence. A 'sick note' (UK) or 'doctor's note' (US) is a medical certificate that often serves as evidence to justify taking sick leave.
No, the correct preposition is 'on'. The standard phrase is 'to be on sick leave'.
'Medical leave' is broader and can include leave for serious medical procedures, not just illness. 'Sick leave' typically implies illness. In many contexts, they are used interchangeably, but 'medical leave' may sound more formal or cover a wider range of health-related absences.
It depends on the employer's policy, employment contract, and local labour laws. It can be either. The terms 'paid sick leave' and 'unpaid sick leave' specify the condition.
A period of time when an employee is officially allowed to be away from work due to illness.
Sick leave is usually formal / business in register.
Sick leave: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɪk ˈliːv/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɪk ˈliːv/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “On the sick (UK informal, potentially derogatory)”
- “Out on sick”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'leave' of absence that is taken because you are 'sick'. It's permission to 'leave' work when 'sick'.
Conceptual Metaphor
HEALTH IS A RESOURCE / ILLNESS IS AN OBSTRUCTION (to work).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most standard usage of 'sick leave'?