“Holiday” vs. “Vacation”: What’s the Difference?
Jul 10, 2023
Engram
The difference between “holiday” and “vacation”
- In American English, a holiday is typically focused on celebrating a specific occasion or tradition, while a vacation is focused on rest and relaxation.
- A holiday may be a religious or national observance that would allow time off or work or school, while a vacation is a personal choice for leisure activities that can be taken anytime throughout the year.
- In British English, being on holiday means being on vacation, regardless of whether there is a specific occasion or religious or national observance.
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What is the definition of “holiday” and “vacation”?
Holiday
- A holiday is a period of time set aside for the celebration or commemoration of an event or tradition (American English).
- It typically involves time off work or school and may include activities such as travel, visiting family, or special meals.
- Holidays vary by culture and may be religious, national, or secular in nature.
Vacation
- A vacation is a period of time when an individual or group temporarily leaves their normal environment for the purpose of rest, relaxation, or recreation.
- It often involves travel to a destination away from home and may include activities such as sightseeing, sunbathing, or participating in adventure sports.
- Vacations can be short or extended periods of time and may be taken for personal or professional reasons.
Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?
“Holiday” is the more popular variant on the web.
More popular
Holiday
1,220,000,000 results on the web
Examples
- I love spending the holiday season with my family and friends.
- We have a national holiday on Monday, so we'll get school off that day.
- The holiday weekend felt long, and I managed to catch up on my sleep.
Vacation
550,000,000 results on the web
Examples
- I am going on a vacation to Hawaii for two weeks.
- My parents always take a summer vacation to their beach house.
- After a long year of work, I am looking forward to taking a relaxing vacation in the mountains.
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