Vacation vs. Vocation — 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 vocation (from Latin vocatio 'a call, summons') is an occupation to which a person is especially drawn or for which they are suited, trained, or qualified. People can be given information about a new occupation through student orientation.

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

A strong feeling of suitability for a particular career or occupation

A holiday.

A regular occupation, especially one for which a person is particularly suited or qualified.

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

An inclination or aptness for a certain kind of work

The act or an instance of vacating.

(Theology) A calling of an individual by God, especially for a religious career.

To take or spend a vacation.

An inclination to undertake a certain kind of work, especially a religious career; often in response to a perceived summons; a calling.

Freedom from some business or activity.

An occupation for which a person is suited, trained or qualified.

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

A call; a summons; a citation; especially, a designation or appointment to a particular state, business, or profession.

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

Destined or appropriate employment; calling; occupation; trade; business; profession.

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

A calling by the will of God.

An extended period of time away from work or school.

The bestowment of God's distinguishing grace upon a person or nation, by which that person or nation is put in the way of salvation; as, the vocation of the Jews under the old dispensation, and of the Gentiles under the gospel.

The act of vacating something; moving out.

A call to special religious work, as to the ministry.

The act of making legally void.

The particular occupation for which you are trained

(intransitive) To spend or take a vacation.

A body of people doing the same kind of work

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