Vocabulary B1 5 min read Updated 13 June 2026

Quick Answer

In British English, holiday means time away from work or school (e.g. I’m going on holiday); in American English, vacation is the standard word for the same idea, while holiday refers specifically to a public or bank holiday such as Christmas Day or Thanksgiving.

Holiday and vacation describe the same basic concept — a period of leisure time away from work or study — but which word you choose depends almost entirely on the variety of English you are speaking or writing. Understanding this distinction will help you sound natural whether you are watching British TV, talking to American colleagues, or preparing for an English exam.

Comparison at a Glance

WordMeaningExampleCommon in
holiday Time off work/school; leisure trip (BrE) or a public/national day of celebration (AmE) We’re going on holiday to Spain. (BrE) British, Australian, Irish English
vacation Time off work/school; leisure trip We’re going on vacation to Florida. (AmE) American, Canadian English

Using “Holiday”

In British English, holiday is the everyday word for time away from work or school, or for a trip taken during that time. It can be used as a countable or uncountable noun, and it appears in many common phrases.

In American English, holiday is reserved for official public celebrations — days such as Independence Day, Thanksgiving, or Christmas. Americans do not typically say they are “going on holiday” for a beach trip.

We had a lovely holiday in Greece last summer. (British English)

The children are off school for the summer holidays. (British English)

Are you taking any holiday this year? (British English — time off work)

Monday is a public holiday, so the banks will be closed. (both BrE and AmE)

Thanksgiving is my favourite holiday. (American English — national celebration)

Key Pattern (British English)

go on holiday — We’re going on holiday next week.
take a holiday — She needs to take a holiday.
on holiday (adjective phrase) — He’s on holiday until Friday.
summer holidays / school holidays — the children’s summer holidays

Using “Vacation”

In American English, vacation is the standard word for any period of leisure time away from work or study. It is also widely used in Canadian English. In British English, vacation is not used in everyday conversation but does appear in formal or academic contexts (e.g. university vacation terms).

We’re planning our summer vacation in Hawaii. (American English)

I only have two weeks of vacation left this year. (American English)

Where are you going on vacation? (American English)

The university vacation starts in December. (British academic English — formal)

They spent their vacation hiking in the Rockies. (American English)

Key Pattern (American English)

go on vacation — We’re going on vacation next month.
take a vacation — You should take a vacation.
on vacation (adjective phrase) — She’s on vacation this week.
summer vacation — the kids’ summer vacation

Common Errors

I’m going on vacation to London next summer. (written for a British audience)

I’m going on holiday to London next summer. (natural British English)

Labor Day is a big holiday in the US — we always go on holiday. (mixing AmE + BrE)

Labor Day is a big holiday in the US — we always go on vacation. (consistent American English)

I need to book my vacation days at work. (to a British colleague)

I need to book my holiday days at work. (natural British English in the workplace)

When Both Words Are Understood

Both holiday and vacation are understood globally thanks to international media. A British person will understand an American saying “vacation,” and an American will understand a British person saying “holiday.” However, using the wrong one can sound slightly foreign or formal. For writing or speaking to a specific audience, match the variety of English they use.

  • Public holiday is used in both British and American English to mean an official day off (bank holiday in BrE).
  • On holiday / on vacation — these are the most common phrase forms; both mean the same thing.
  • In academic British English, university terms are separated by vacations (Christmas vacation, Easter vacation, summer vacation).

Memory Tip

Memory Tip

Think of the V in vacation as standing for the American brand “Visit the USA.” Americans go on vacation. British people take a holiday — and “Holiday” starts with the same letter as “Harry Potter” (a very British icon). Holiday = British; vacation = American.

Related Vocabulary

  • bank holiday (BrE) — an official public holiday when banks and most businesses close: Easter Monday is a bank holiday.
  • federal holiday (AmE) — an official US public holiday: Veterans Day is a federal holiday.
  • annual leave (formal, both) — paid time off from work: I have 25 days of annual leave.
  • staycation (informal, both) — a holiday spent at home: We did a staycation this year.
  • package holiday / package tour (BrE/both) — a pre-arranged trip including flights and hotel: They booked a package holiday to Tenerife.

Related Vocabulary Topics

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between holiday and vacation?
The key difference is regional. In British English, holiday is the standard word for time off work or school and for leisure trips: we went on holiday to Italy. In American English, vacation is used for the same idea: we went on vacation to Italy. In American English, holiday means a public or national celebration day, such as Thanksgiving or Independence Day. In British English, these are called public holidays or bank holidays.
Do British people say vacation?
British people rarely use vacation in everyday conversation to mean a leisure trip. They say holiday instead: I am going on holiday, not I am going on vacation. However, vacation does appear in formal British English, especially in academic contexts. Universities in the UK refer to the periods between terms as vacations (Christmas vacation, Easter vacation, summer vacation). Outside of academia, vacation sounds American or formal to a British ear.
Do Americans say holiday?
Americans use holiday, but with a different meaning. In American English, holiday refers to a public celebration day — such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Independence Day — not a personal leisure trip. An American would not say I am going on holiday to mean a beach trip; they would say I am going on vacation. However, the phrase Happy Holidays is common in American English as a seasonal greeting covering Christmas, Hanukkah, and other winter celebrations.
Is "public holiday" used in both British and American English?
Yes. The phrase public holiday is understood and used in both varieties of English to mean an official day when most businesses and schools are closed. In British English, these are also called bank holidays. In American English, they are often called federal holidays or national holidays. Examples include Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and Easter Monday (BrE) or Thanksgiving and Labor Day (AmE).
Can I use holiday and vacation interchangeably?
They are interchangeable only in terms of meaning (time off work or school for leisure), but not in terms of regional appropriateness. If you are writing for a British audience or speaking British English, use holiday. If you are writing for an American audience or speaking American English, use vacation. Mixing them can sound unnatural, and using vacation in British English or holiday (for a trip) in American English may confuse your listener or reader.
What does "on holiday" mean?
On holiday is a British English phrase meaning currently away from work or school on a leisure trip. For example: She is on holiday this week. He went on holiday to France. This phrase is the British equivalent of the American on vacation. In British workplaces, people also say they are taking holiday to mean using their annual leave allowance.
What is a "bank holiday"?
A bank holiday is a British English term for an official public holiday — a day when banks, schools, and most businesses are closed. The name comes from the Bank Holidays Act of 1871, which originally designated certain days when banks would close. Examples of UK bank holidays include Good Friday, Easter Monday, May Day, and Boxing Day. In American English, these are called public holidays or federal holidays.
Is "summer vacation" or "summer holiday" correct?
Both are correct — the choice depends on the variety of English. American English uses summer vacation for the long break between school years. British English uses summer holidays (often plural) for the same period. A British child would say the summer holidays start in July, while an American child would say summer vacation starts in June. Both terms refer to the long school break in the warm months.
Which word should I use for IELTS or Cambridge exams?
IELTS and Cambridge exams are based on British English, so holiday is the expected word for a leisure trip or time off. Use holiday rather than vacation in your writing and speaking tasks unless the context specifically calls for American English vocabulary. In exam contexts, you may write: I am planning to go on holiday next month. Using vacation is not wrong and will not lose you marks, but holiday is the more natural choice for British English examinations.
What is a "staycation"?
A staycation is an informal word (a blend of stay and vacation) for a holiday spent at home or close to home rather than travelling to a distant destination. The word is widely used in both British and American English and became especially popular during travel restrictions. Example: We could not afford to fly abroad, so we had a staycation and visited local attractions. Staycation uses vacation as its base word but is accepted in both BrE and AmE.