On Sick Leave: Meaning, Usage, and Examples

Meaning 1：off sick (on sick leave)

on sick leave 🔊

/ɒn sɪk liːv/

phrase

When you can't go to work because you are ill, your employer allows you to stay at home to rest and recover.

On sick leave scene: person resting on sofa with blanket and tea

off sick 🔊

➕

/ɒf sɪk/

phrase

Being absent from work because of illness, with permission from one's employer to recover at home.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

'On' + 'sick' + 'leave': state of permitted absence due to illness.

💡 Mnemonic

Sick? You have leave to stay home and rest.

📖 Example

Because of the flu, Sarah is on sick leave this week, so she won't be in the office. 🔊 Because of the flu, Sarah is on sick leave this week, so she will not be at the office.

🔗 Collocations

be on sick leave – to be absent from work due to illness

take sick leave – to officially use one's sick leave entitlement

extend sick leave – to lengthen the period of sick leave

🔄 Synonyms

medical leave (noun phrase) – time off from work for medical reasons, including doctor visits or surgery.

sick day (noun) – a day of absence from work due to illness.

time off for illness (noun phrase) – permission to be absent from work because of being sick.

🚫 Antonyms

on duty (adjective phrase) – working as required; not on leave.

at work (phrase) – present at the workplace performing duties.

present (adjective) – attending work; not absent.

📖 Cultural Story

The concept of paid sick leave emerged from 19th-century labor movements to protect worker health. It is now a standard benefit in many countries.