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.
Prince Harry Won't See King Charles or Prince William During U.K. Visit King Charles' son spent some of his 2004 gap year after Eton College in Lesotho, and co-founded the charity Sentebale with Prince Seeiso two years later in 2006. Janine Henni, People.com, 2 Oct. 2024 After first visiting Lesotho in 2004 during his gap year, Prince Harry co-founded the charity Sentebale with Prince Seeiso in 2006 to help children and young people affected by poverty, inequality and HIV/AIDS in both Lesotho and Botswana. Rachel Burchfield, People.com, 1 Oct. 2024 Her latest project, not in a dollhouse anymore (released on September 20), symbolizes her last four years, which began with a major breakup during peak pandemic in the middle of her gap year. Margaret Farrell, SPIN, 30 Sep. 2024 Not exactly a gap year after high school graduation. Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 14 Sep. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near gap year

Cite this Entry

“Gap year.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gap%20year. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!