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Leisure vs. Vacation — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 2, 2023
Leisure is free time for relaxation or hobbies, while a vacation is a specific period of leisure spent away from home or work.
Leisure vs. Vacation — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Leisure and Vacation

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Key Differences

Leisure refers to free time, while vacation is a specific break from work.
Leisure can be daily, like reading a book. A vacation is a planned getaway.
Leisure activities are diverse; vacation is travel-oriented leisure.
Leisure is often routine; vacations are special leisure periods.
In leisure, one might stay home; vacations typically involve travel.
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Comparison Chart

Definition

Free time for relaxation or hobbies
Specific period spent away from work

Frequency

Can be daily
Usually occasional

Activities

Diverse and personal
Often involves travel and new experiences

Routine

Can be part of daily routine
Breaks the routine

Location

Often at home
Typically involves traveling

Compare with Definitions

Leisure

Personal time for hobbies.
In his leisure, he painted landscapes.

Vacation

A period of leisure away from home.
Their family vacation involved camping.

Leisure

Interval of relaxation and ease.
She valued leisure for meditation.

Vacation

(North America) A holiday; a stretch of leisure time away from work or duty and devoted to rest or pleasure.

Leisure

Period of free choice activities.
Leisure was spent hiking trails.

Vacation

A getaway for relaxation.
Her beach vacation was rejuvenating.

Leisure

Leisure has often been defined as a quality of experience or as free time. Free time is time spent away from business, work, job hunting, domestic chores, and education, as well as necessary activities such as eating and sleeping.

Vacation

Traveling for pleasure and rest.
Her vacation was a European tour.

Leisure

Time free from work or duties.
She spent her leisure gardening.

Vacation

Time off for recreation.
He took a vacation to unwind.

Leisure

Opportunity for relaxation.
Leisure time meant reading for him.

Vacation

A vacation (American English), or holiday (British English), is a leave of absence from a regular job, or a specific trip or journey, usually for the purpose of recreation or tourism. People often take a vacation during specific holiday observances, or for specific festivals or celebrations.

Leisure

Free time when one is not working or attending to other duties.

Vacation

A period of time devoted to pleasure, rest, or relaxation, especially one with pay granted to an employee.

Leisure

Relaxation or activities engaged in during such time
The pursuit of leisure.

Vacation

A holiday.

Leisure

Freedom provided by the cessation of activities.

Vacation

A fixed period of holidays, especially one during which a school, court, or business suspends activities.

Leisure

Free time, time free from work or duties.

Vacation

The act or an instance of vacating.

Leisure

Time at one's command, free from engagement; convenient opportunity; hence, convenience; ease.

Vacation

To take or spend a vacation.

Leisure

Freedom from occupation or business; vacant time; time free from employment.
The desire of leisure is much more natural than of business and care.

Vacation

Freedom from some business or activity.

Leisure

Time at one's command, free from engagement; convenient opportunity; hence, convenience; ease.
He sighed, and had no leisure more to say.

Vacation

(obsolete) Free time given over to a specific purpose; occupation, activity.

Leisure

Unemployed; as, leisure hours.

Vacation

A period during which official activity or business is formally suspended; an official holiday from university, law courts etc.

Leisure

Time available for ease and relaxation;
His job left him little leisure

Vacation

An extended period of time away from work or school.
Spring vacation offers a good opportunity to travel.

Leisure

Freedom to choose a pastime or enjoyable activity;
He lacked the leisure for golf

Vacation

The act of vacating something; moving out.
The Conservative Party’s vacation of the centre ground gave an opportunity to its opponents.

Vacation

The act of making legally void.

Vacation

(intransitive) To spend or take a vacation.
This year, we’re vacationing in Mexico.

Vacation

The act of vacating; a making void or of no force; as, the vacation of an office or a charter.

Vacation

Intermission of a stated employment, procedure, or office; a period of intermission; rest; leisure.
It was not in his nature, however, at least till years had chastened it, to take any vacation from controversy.

Vacation

Intermission of judicial proceedings; the space of time between the end of one term and the beginning of the next; nonterm; recess.

Vacation

A period of intermission of regular paid work or employment, or of studies and exercises at an educational institution; the time during which a person temporarily ceases regular duties of any kind and performs other activites, usually some form of liesure; holidays; recess (at a school); as, the spring vacation; to spend one's vacation travelling; to paint the house while on vacation. Vacation is typically used for rest, travel, or recreation, but may be used for any purpose. In Britain this sense of vacation is usually referred to as holiday.

Vacation

The time when an office is vacant;

Vacation

Leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure;
We get two weeks of vacation every summer
We took a short holiday in Puerto Rico

Vacation

The act of making something legally void

Vacation

Spend or take a vacation

Vacation

A break from work or routine.
They went on a vacation to Hawaii.

Common Curiosities

How does leisure benefit mental health?

It allows relaxation and pursuit of personal interests, reducing stress.

Is vacation always about traveling?

Often, but it can also be a staycation at home.

What defines leisure?

Leisure is free time for relaxation or personal activities.

Can leisure be a daily activity?

Yes, leisure can be enjoyed daily in one's free time.

Are vacations important for work-life balance?

Yes, they provide necessary breaks from work responsibilities.

Can hobbies be considered leisure?

Absolutely, hobbies are a popular form of leisure.

Can a business trip be considered a vacation?

Typically no, unless it includes significant leisure time.

Does leisure always involve physical activities?

Not necessarily; it can also include quiet activities like reading.

Should vacations be planned or spontaneous?

They can be either, depending on personal preference.

What is a vacation?

A vacation is a period of time spent away from work, usually for rest or travel.

Do vacations need to be long?

Not necessarily; even short breaks can be considered vacations.

Is leisure time the same as idle time?

Not quite; leisure is actively chosen free time, not just idleness.

Is leisure time decreasing in modern society?

It varies, but some studies suggest increased work demands have reduced leisure time.

Can leisure activities be social?

Definitely; many people enjoy social activities during their leisure time.

Are staycations considered vacations?

Yes, if they involve taking a break from routine and work.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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