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Added 9 October 2026

holiday

/ˈhɒlɪˌdeɪ/ noun

In Latin: fēria, fēstum Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about holiday at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure.
we get two weeks of vacation every summer
A day on which work is suspended by law or custom.
no mail is delivered on federal holidays

verb

Spend or take a vacation.

Origin

From Middle English halyday, holyday, halidei, haliȝdei, from Old English hāliġdæġ (“holy day, Sabbath”), equivalent to holy + day. Compare West Frisian hjeldei (“holiday”), Danish helligdag (“holiday”), Norwegian helligdag (“holiday”), Swedish helgdag (“holiday, feast”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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