vacation
C1 (High frequency, common in everyday conversation and writing)Neutral to informal. Formal contexts may prefer 'holiday', 'leave', or 'recess'.
Definition
Meaning
A fixed period of time spent away from work or home for rest, travel, or leisure.
Can refer to a specific holiday period in an academic or legal calendar, or to the action of taking a holiday.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a count noun (e.g., 'a vacation', 'two vacations'). In American English, it commonly refers to the leisure trip itself. Can imply a longer, more substantial break than a simple 'day off'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'holiday(s)' is the primary term for a leisure break; 'vacation' is used for university/college breaks or is a formal/legal term. In American English, 'vacation' is the standard term for a leisure trip or break from work.
Connotations
UK: Academic, formal, or extended (e.g., summer vacation). US: Universal for leisure travel, positive, relaxing.
Frequency
In US English, 'vacation' is extremely high frequency. In UK English, 'holiday' is dominant for the leisure sense, making 'vacation' less common in everyday talk.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] take a vacation [in/at/to location][Subject] go on vacation[Subject] be on vacation[Subject] vacation in/at [location] (verb)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A busman's holiday (UK: a vacation spent doing similar work to your job)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"All employees are entitled to three weeks of paid vacation." (US) / "...paid annual leave." (UK)
Academic
"The library will be closed during the Easter vacation."
Everyday
"We're saving up for a vacation to Hawaii next year." (US) / "...a holiday to Spain." (UK)
Technical
In law, "vacation" refers to the break between court terms.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They usually vacation in the south of France.
- The judge is vacationing in Scotland this summer.
American English
- We're vacationing in Florida this winter.
- She vacationed at the lake every summer as a child.
adverb
British English
- (Rare as a standalone adverb) They travelled vacation-style, with no fixed itinerary.
American English
- (Rare as a standalone adverb) They lived vacation-style for a whole month.
adjective
British English
- vacation pay
- vacation entitlement
- the vacation period
American English
- vacation days
- vacation home
- vacation plans
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I am on vacation.
- She has a vacation in July.
- They like beach vacations.
- We're planning a two-week vacation to Italy.
- He used all his vacation days to visit family.
- The company offers four weeks of paid vacation.
- After a stressful quarter, she desperately needed a proper vacation.
- We decided to forgo a traditional vacation and volunteer instead.
- Renting a cottage is often more economical for a family vacation.
- His idea of an ideal vacation involves complete disconnection from digital devices.
- The professor is on sabbatical, which is essentially an extended academic vacation for research.
- They strategically planned their vacation to coincide with the off-peak season.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of VACation: VACant your mind and leave your usual place.
Conceptual Metaphor
VACATION IS A CONTAINER (full of fun, relaxation, memories); VACATION IS A JOURNEY (away from normal life).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'каникулы' as 'vacation' for short school breaks; 'school holidays' or 'break' is better. In US English, 'vacation' is not just 'отпуск' (work leave) but specifically the leisure trip taken during it.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'on vacation' with 'the' (e.g., 'I am on the vacation' – INCORRECT). Using 'vacation' as an uncountable noun in singular contexts (e.g., 'I need vacation' – less common; 'I need a vacation' is standard).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'vacation' in a typically British English sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In American English, 'vacation' is standard for a leisure break, while 'holiday' refers to a national/public celebration (e.g., Christmas). In British English, 'holiday' is the standard term for a leisure break, and 'vacation' is used for university breaks or in formal contexts.
Yes, especially in American English (e.g., 'We vacation in Maine'). In British English, it's less common but understood, often with a formal tone.
The correct preposition is almost always 'on vacation' (e.g., 'She is on vacation'). 'In vacation' is incorrect.
When referring to a specific instance, use the article: 'I took a vacation.' When using it in a general or uncountable sense (often with 'on', 'during'), no article is used: 'He is on vacation.'