Vacation vs. Sabbatical — What's the Difference?

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.

A sabbatical (from Hebrew: shabbat (שבת) (i.e., Sabbath), in Latin: sabbaticus, in Greek: sabbatikos (σαββατικός)) is a rest or break from work.

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

Relating to a sabbatical year.

A holiday.

Sabbatical also Sabbatic Relating or appropriate to the Sabbath as the day of rest.

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

A sabbatical year.

The act or an instance of vacating.

Relating to the Sabbath.

To take or spend a vacation.

Relating to a sabbatical.

Freedom from some business or activity.

An extended period of leave from a person's usual pursuits.

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

A leave usually taken every seventh year

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

Of or relating to the Sabbath;

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

Of or relating to sabbatical leave;

An extended period of time away from work or school.

The act of vacating something; moving out.

The act of making legally void.

(intransitive) To spend or take a vacation.

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

Intermission of a stated employment, procedure, or office; a period of intermission; rest; leisure.

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

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.

The time when an office is vacant;

Leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure;

The act of making something legally void

Spend or take a vacation