# abbatical

CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abbatical
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

a period of time when a teacher or researcher is away from their job to study or travel. It is usually a paid leave of absence for a year.

For teachers: a period of leave from a teaching or research position, typically for a year, granted for the purpose of study or travel.

## Examples

- She is taking an abbatical to finish her book.
- The university granted him an abbatical so he could spend a year studying ancient manuscripts in Europe.
- While many institutions offer sabbaticals to senior faculty, the term abbatical is more frequently used in the humanities to describe a structured period of academic retreat.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.