public holiday — national day off
collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
A day when most people do not have to go to work or school because it is officially recognized and celebrated by the country.
Say it like a native
Textbook Monday has been designated an officially recognised day of public observance.
Native Monday's a public holiday.
'Officially recognised day of public observance' is bureaucratic; 'public holiday' is normal.
Pattern: public holiday (noun, countable); on a public holiday
In use
- Most shops are closed on a public holiday.daily life
- In my country, we have several public holidays each year, such as Independence Day and New Year's Day, when people usually spend time with their families.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ Monday is a public day off.
✓ Monday is a public holiday.
It's a 'public holiday' (UK) / 'national holiday' (US) — not 'public day off'.
Common collocations
a public holiday— a public holiday, bank holiday, on a public holiday, national holiday
Don't confuse it
Unlike a weekend or a personal day off, a public holiday is the same for everyone in a country or region.