vacation leave

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "vacation leave" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to time away from work or school for a holiday or other purpose. For example, "I asked my boss for two weeks of vacation leave to go visit my family."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

Come on vacation, leave on probation".

The New York Times

BRUSSELS — For most Europeans, almost nothing is more prized than their four to six weeks of guaranteed annual vacation leave.

The New York Times

The format in Singapore attracts students who can use a day of vacation leave to attend three days of classes.

The New York Times

The residential program there operates on weeklong sessions because of the more generous vacation leave allowance in France, said Kristen Lynas, Insead's director of executive degrees.

The New York Times

The F.B.I. marchers took vacation leave to join in the demonstration, said Susan Lloyd, an agent who is a spokeswoman for the F.B.I.'s Washington field office.

The New York Times

Heinz Grisham's latest thriller, in which a feisty Bavarian labor ministry official uncovers a Yankee plot to reduce the German annual vacation leave from 16 weeks to a mere 14.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

Chloe (Garance Clavel) is an attractive but lonely young makeup artist who takes a much-needed vacation, leaving her beloved cat, Gris-Gris, with an elderly neighbor.

The New York Times

The New Yorker, March 16, 1940 P. 25 A woman in the cosmetics business went away for a winter vacation, leaving her apartment to be redone by an interior decorator.

The New Yorker

This time, the bad news came just before midnight on Monday, July 3, when many analysts were on vacation, leaving investors to wonder whether the company hoped its announcement would go unnoticed.

The New York Times

By Irving Drutman and Russell Maloney The New Yorker, March 16, 1940 P. 25 A woman in the cosmetics business went away for a winter vacation, leaving her apartment to be redone by an interior decorator.

The New Yorker

That is, the server upon returning from a vacation leaves immediately for another one if the system is empty at that moment.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In casual workplace correspondence, you can often drop the word "leave" and simply use "vacation" or "vacation time" to sound more natural.

Common error

Avoid using redundant phrasing like "holiday vacation leave". Also, note that while you can take "a vacation", you generally take "vacation leave" without an indefinite article when referring to the concept or the accumulated balance.

Linguistic Context

In linguistic terms, "vacation leave" serves as a compound noun that typically acts as a direct object or the head of a prepositional phrase in administrative and professional discourse. According to Ludwig, it is frequently used to categorize a specific type of employee benefit distinct from medical or parental absences.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science & Research

25%

Wiki & General Knowledge

20%

Less common in

Fiction & Literature

5%

Social Media

3%

Spoken Conversation

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "vacation leave" is a highly effective and correct term for describing authorized time off from work for rest or travel. Ludwig AI confirms its presence in a wide array of professional contexts, from labor economics research to mainstream news reporting. While it is particularly prevalent in American English, it remains a globally understood term in formal HR settings. To improve your writing, remember that it is often interchangeable with annual leave, though "vacation leave" carries a slightly more administrative tone. It is best used when discussing policies, entitlements or formal requests for time away from professional duties.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

annual leave

Most common formal alternative in many countries, especially the UK and Australia.

vacation time

Slightly less formal and focuses on the duration rather than the administrative leave status.

holiday leave

Specifically emphasizes the holiday aspect, more frequent in British English.

paid time off

Broader HR term that often includes sick days and personal time alongside vacation.

time off

Informal and conversational way to refer to being away from work.

personal leave

A more general category that can include vacation but also other private matters.

recreation leave

Bureaucratic term used primarily in government and military contexts.

statutory leave

Refers specifically to the legal minimum of time off required by law.

leave of absence

A broader term often implying a longer, sometimes unpaid, period away from duties.

furlough

Usually refers to a temporary, forced leave from work, often unpaid.

FAQs

How do I use "vacation leave" in a sentence?

You can use it when discussing administrative time off, such as: "Employees are entitled to 20 days of "vacation leave" per year." It functions similarly to "annual leave".

What is the difference between "vacation leave" and "annual leave"?

There is virtually no semantic difference; both refer to paid time off for recreation. However, "annual leave" is the preferred term in UK, Australian and international business English, while "vacation leave" is more common in US and Philippine contexts.

Can I say "taking a vacation leave"?

It is more common to say "taking "vacation leave"" or "going on vacation". Adding the "a" before "vacation leave" is often seen as a non-native construction; instead, use "taking vacation".

What can I say instead of "vacation leave"?

Depending on the context, you can use "paid time off", "time off" or "holiday".