gap year

American

[gap yeer] / ˈgæp ˌyɪər /

noun

a period of time, usually an academic or calendar year, in which a student takes a break from school to travel, work, or volunteer, typically after ending high school and before starting college.

gap year British

noun

a year's break taken by a student between leaving school and starting further education

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of gap year

First recorded in 1975–80; gap ( def. ) + year ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The practice, known as “reclassifying,” “reclassing,” “bridge year” or “gap year,” is spreading fast in football, basketball, baseball, lacrosse and other sports where height and strength are key.

From The Wall Street Journal

Imtiaz Shams, in his mid-thirties and CEO of a tech start-up, worked as a public sector finance assistant in his gap year, saving his £16,000 annual salary for university fees.

From BBC

The UK will launch a military "gap year" scheme, as part of efforts to boost recruitment and reconnect young people with defence, the government said Saturday.

From Barron's

The MoD says those who join the "gap year" programme will learn skills of leadership, teamwork and problem solving to set them up "for life" whether they pursue a career in the armed forces or not.

From BBC

The ADF gap year programme has been in operation for more than a decade, with applicants offered the chance "get a feel for military life while enjoying unique experiences you can't find anywhere else".

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023