Annual Leave Definition, Examples, and Usage

Meaning 1：Annual leave (Annual leave)

Annual leave 🔊

/ˈænjuəl liːv/

The paid time off work that employees are entitled to take each year.

Annual leave 🔊

➕

/ˈænjuəl liːv/

Paid time off from work that employees are entitled to take each year, typically based on their employment contract or company policy.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Annual (yearly) + leave (time off from work).

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'A yearly vacation' - annual leave is the paid time off you get each year.

📖 Example

I need to check how many days of annual leave I have left before I book my holiday. 🔊 I need to check how many days of annual leave I have left before I book my holiday.

🔗 Collocations

take annual leave – to use annual leave

annual leave entitlement – the right to annual leave

annual leave balance – the amount of annual leave remaining

🔄 Synonyms

vacation (n.) – A period of time spent away from work for rest or travel.

paid time off (n.) – Time off from work that is compensated by an employer.

holiday leave (n.) – Leave taken for holidays, often paid.

🚫 Antonyms

sick leave (n.) – Time off from work due to illness, usually paid.

unpaid leave (n.) – Time off work without pay.

🌱 Derivatives

annual leave policy (n.) – A company's rules regarding annual leave.

📖 Cultural Story

Annual leave became a standard employee benefit in the 20th century, formalized in labor laws like the UK's Employment Rights Act 1996. It ensures workers get paid rest time each year.