Definition of holiday noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

holiday

noun

ˈhɒlədeɪ

ˈhɒlədi

ˈhɑːlədeɪ

1 [uncountable] also holidays [plural] (both British English) (North American English vacation) a period of time when you are not at work or schoolthe school/summer/Christmas, etc. holidaysI'm afraid Mr Walsh is away on holiday this week.The package includes 20 days' paid holiday a year.holiday paya holiday job (= done by students during the school holidays)

2 [countable] (British English) (North American English vacation) a period of time spent travelling or resting away from homea camping/skiing/walking, etc. holidayan adventure holidaya family holidaya foreign holidaya holiday cottage/home/resortthe holiday industrya holiday romanceWhere are you going for your holidays this year?a two-week holiday in the sunThey met while on holiday in Greece.We went on holiday together last summer.I haven't had a decent holiday for years. see also busman's holiday, package tour

3 [countable] a day when most people do not go to work or school, especially because of a religious or national celebrationa national holidayToday is a holiday in Wales. see also bank holiday, public holiday

4 holidays [plural] (North American English) the time in December and early January that includes Christmas, Hanukkah and New YearHappy Holidays!

Usage note: Travel and tourismHolidays/vacationshave/take (British English) a holiday/(North American English) a vacation/a break/a day off/(British English) a gap yeargo on/be on holiday/vacation/leave/honeymoon/safari/a trip/a tour/a cruise/a pilgrimagego backpacking/camping/hitchhiking/sightseeingplan a trip/a holiday/a vacation/your itinerarybook accommodation/a hotel room/a flight/ticketshave/make/cancel a reservation/(especially British English) bookingrent a villa/(both British English) a holiday home/a holiday cottage(especially British English) hire/(especially North American English) rent a car/bicycle/mopedstay in a hotel/a bed and breakfast/a youth hostel/a villa/(both British English) a holiday home/a caravancost/charge $100 a/per night for a single/double/twin/standard/(British English) en suite roomcheck into/out of a hotel/a motel/your roompack/unpack your suitcase/bagscall/order room servicecancel/cut short a trip/holiday/vacationForeign travelapply for/get/renew a/your passporttake out/buy/get travel insurancecatch/miss your plane/train/ferry/connecting flightfly (in)/travel in business/economy classmake/have a brief/two-day/twelve-hour stopover/(North American English also) layover in Hong Kongexperience/cause/lead to delayscheck (in)/collect/get/lose (your) (especially British English) luggage/(especially North American English) baggagebe charged for/pay excess baggageboard/get on/leave/get off the aircraft/plane/ship/ferrytaxi down/leave/approach/hit/overshoot the runwayexperience/hit/encounter severe turbulencesuffer from/recover from/get over your jet lag/travel sicknessThe tourist industryattract/draw/bring tourists/visitorsencourage/promote/hurt tourismpromote/develop ecotourismbuild/develop/visit a tourist/holiday/(especially British English) seaside/beach/ski resortwork for/be operated by a major hotel chainbe served by/compete with low-cost/(especially North American English) low-fare/budget airlinesbook something through/make a booking through/use a travel agentcontact/check with your travel agent/tour operatorbook/be on/go on a package deal/holiday/tourbuy/bring back (tacky/overpriced) souvenirs

Usage note: holiday / vacationYou use holiday (or holidays) in British English and vacation in North American English to describe the regular periods of time when you are not at work or school, or time that you spend travelling or resting away from home: I get four weeks’ holiday/vacation a year. ◇ He’s on holiday/vacation this week. ◇ I like to take my holiday/vacation in the winter. ◇ the summer holidays/vacation.In North American English a holiday (or a public holiday) is a single day when government offices, schools, banks and businesses are closed: The school will be closed Monday because it’s a holiday. This is called a bank holiday in British English.The holidays is used in North American English to refer to the time in late December and early January that includes Christmas, Hanukkah and the New Year.Vacation in British English is used mainly to mean one of the periods when universities are officially closed for the students.