gap year

noun

: a one-year hiatus from academic studies to allow for nonacademic activities

Examples of gap year in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Companies offer all kinds of unusual benefits these days, from wellness retreats to executive gap years. Brit Morse, Fortune, 11 July 2025 Apple took a similar gap year in 2024, releasing a new color for the Apple Watch Ultra 2 that debuted in 2023. Julian Chokkattu, Wired News, 9 July 2025 My feeling is that the Celtics look at next year as kind of a gap year; retooling a year to stay competitive to an extent. Peter A. Berry, Rolling Stone, 29 June 2025 Taking what might feel like a gap year might not be tenable for all kinds of reasons. Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 29 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for gap year

Word History

First Known Use

1978, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gap year was in 1978

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Cite this Entry

“Gap year.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gap%20year. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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