as in vacation
a period of time during which someone does not work at their regular job
Several professors will be taking sabbaticals this year. She recently returned to work after a two-year sabbatical from her acting career.
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Recent Examples of sabbatical
The medical drama's season 2 finale ended on a cliffhanger Thursday, April 16, with Wyle's character pondering a three-month sabbatical and a motorcycle ride across the country.
—
Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
Adriane Galisteu were trying their best to get the three-time F1 champ to retire, or at least take a sabbatical.
—Jerry Perez, The Drive, 16 Apr. 2026
Then there’s the whole thing about him planning a sabbatical that was really a plan to perhaps end his life.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026
After what basically amounted to a winter sabbatical of sorts, having been out of sight since the beginning of December, Venus — by far the most brilliant of the naked-eye planets — is now fully back in view.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sabbatical
Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
Adriane Galisteu were trying their best to get the three-time F1 champ to retire, or at least take a sabbatical.
—Jerry Perez, The Drive, 16 Apr. 2026
Then there’s the whole thing about him planning a sabbatical that was really a plan to perhaps end his life.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026
After what basically amounted to a winter sabbatical of sorts, having been out of sight since the beginning of December, Venus — by far the most brilliant of the naked-eye planets — is now fully back in view.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sabbatical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sabbatical
Noun
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Faced with a choice between keeping its existing three-night-stay minimum or obtaining state permission for a cap on the total number of vacation rentals allowed in Encinitas, a majority of the City Council opted to stick with the current night-stay requirement.—
Barbara Henry,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
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Meanwhile, today Uranus enters a part of your chart to stay for six years, encouraging impulsive vacations, surprising romance and unexpected children.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Steele is now unlikely to rejoin the Cubs’ rotation until after the July All-Star break, Counsell estimated.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
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Wagner led the team at the halfway mark with 17 points, scoring 10 points in the paint before the break.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In Cambodia, worker groups spoke of furloughs, cut shifts and job losses.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
28 Apr. 2026
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One official in the Office of Intelligence and Analysis described an operation functioning at roughly 80% capacity, with employees rotating in and out of furlough status week to week — disrupting even routine information-sharing and leaving critical gaps in coordination.—
Nicole Sganga,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The roots are deep, the canopy wide, and the song in the leaves, especially in the hands of an ensemble like this one, always worth rehearing.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
26 Apr. 2026
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Inside the formula, castor oil, soybean oil, and panthenol leave hair smooth and shiny, while calming chamomile and calendula extracts keep your scalp irritation-free.—
Sarah Felbin,
Allure,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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However, due to the Passover holiday this month, the deadline for mail-in-ballots was extended to April 28.—
Helen Acevedo,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
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The truce, poised to coincide with Russia’s Victory Day holiday on May 9, would come several weeks after Kyiv and Moscow negotiated a ceasefire around Orthodox Easter, though each side accused the other of violations.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In the American ideal, the government’s role is to protect individuals’ life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.—
Robertas Bakula,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
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Some lawmakers and industry groups have raised concerns about personal freedom, enforcement challenges, and the growth of illicit tobacco markets, sparking debate over individual liberty and the role of the state in regulating personal behavior.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sabbatical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sabbatical. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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