Sabbatical
noun / adjective /səˈbæt.ɪ.kəl/ — A period of leave from regular work for study, travel, or renewal.
Definition
A period of paid leave granted to a university teacher or other worker for study or travel. More broadly: any deliberate pause from normal work or life for the purpose of renewal, reflection, or exploration.
Beyond the definition
The sabbatical is society's acknowledgement that people cannot simply work. That replenishment, reflection, and distance are not luxuries but necessities for sustained quality. The sabbatical is rest institutionalised.
Origin & history
Hebrew: 'shabbat' (rest, Sabbath). From 'shavat' (to rest). The biblical Sabbath — the seventh day of rest — extends into the sabbatical year (every seventh year, fields were left fallow). Rest as rhythm, not exception.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She took a sabbatical from journalism and emerged with a book and a different relationship to what the news actually meant.
He used his sabbatical to do nothing — and discovered that doing nothing is not actually possible.
The company offered sabbaticals after five years. Few took them; fewer took them and didn't wish they'd taken them sooner.
How to use it
Follow this entry’s examples for grammatical form and sentence placement.
Choose “Sabbatical” when the meaning fits your context: A period of paid leave granted to a university teacher or other worker for study or travel. More broadly: any deliberate pause from normal work or life for the purpose of renewal, reflection, or exploration.
Synonyms
leave, break, hiatus, recess
Antonyms
continuity, routine, work
Related words
Sabbatical vs vacation
A vacation is short-term rest for leisure. A sabbatical is a prolonged, structured break from one's career for study, research, or significant renewal.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Thoughtful Reflection After The Meal
An adult sits at a table after a meal in dimming light, staring at a candle flame with a comfortable, unhurried, easy posture.
The scene represents a sabbatical: a deliberate pause from the demands of work. The focus on the unhurried posture and the candle flame highlights the necessity of stepping away from the daily grind to engage in the vital, quiet work of reflection, renewal, and simple presence.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Sabbatical" mean?
Sabbatical is noun / adjective meaning: A period of leave from regular work for study, travel, or renewal.. A period of paid leave granted to a university teacher or other worker for study or travel. More broadly: any deliberate pause from normal work or life for the purpose of renewal, reflection, or exploration.
Where does the word "Sabbatical" come from?
Hebrew: 'shabbat' (rest, Sabbath). From 'shavat' (to rest). The biblical Sabbath — the seventh day of rest — extends into the sabbatical year (every seventh year, fields were left fallow). Rest as rhythm, not exception.