vacation

Definitions

vac (empty) + -ation (act/state) = "a being emptied." Latin vacātiō meant freedom or exemption — being emptied of duties. When courts and schools emptied out for the season, that empty stretch of time became the holiday we know today.

Why It Means This

The link to "empty" is hidden but real: a vacation is time emptied of obligations. The word isn't built on the idea of travel — that's just what people do with the empty time. This is why you can have a "staycation" and still call it a vacation: the defining feature is the empty schedule, not the destination.

Usage Guide

Example Sentences

• 1.

  We're taking a two-week vacation in Italy this summer.

• 2.

  She's still on vacation and won't be back until Monday.

• 3.

  Many families vacation at the beach every August.