Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Vacation has 5 different meanings across 2 categories:
the act of making something legally void
"After the judge ruled that the contract was obtained through fraud, he declared the entire agreement a vacation and ordered it to be set aside immediately."
Freedom from some business or activity.
"After weeks of managing three different projects, I finally requested a vacation to gain complete freedom from all business obligations."
In plain English: A vacation is a break from school or work where you get to relax and have fun for a while.
"We are planning a vacation to the beach next month."
To spend or take a vacation.
"We are finally taking our well-deserved vacation to the coast next week."
In plain English: To take a vacation means to stop working for a while and go somewhere else to relax.
"We decided to vacation in Hawaii this summer."
Usage: Use this verb to describe actively taking time off work, as in "I am going to vacation next month." It is often interchangeable with the noun form when used without an object, but avoid using it transitively unless specifying who you are visiting.
The word "vacation" comes from the Latin vacātiō, which means an act of being free or idle. It traveled into English through Anglo-Norman and Middle French before taking on its modern meaning in the 16th century.