sick leave

noun

1
: an absence from work permitted because of illness
2
: the number of days per year for which an employer agrees to pay employees who are sick

Examples of sick leave in a Sentence

employee benefits such as vacation time and sick leave We are allotted three weeks annual sick leave. He's been on sick leave since last Thursday.
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.
Petersen says paid sick leave would help enormously. — Andrea Hsu, NPR, 16 June 2026 Employees will not be able to use sick leave, vacation time or comp time. — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 30 June 2026 Instead, employers would be able to ask for a doctor's certificate from the first day a person is on sick leave. — ABC News, 2 July 2026 Lastly, a new faculty-only sick leave bank will ensure a more secure safety net and access to parental leave. — Cbs Baltimore Staff, CBS News, 14 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for sick leave

Word History

First Known Use

1820, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sick leave was in 1820

Rhymes for sick leave

See All Rhymes for sick leave

Browse Nearby Words

sickle and hammer
sick leave
sickle bar
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sick leave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sick%20leave. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Medical Definition

sick leave

noun
1
: an absence from work permitted because of illness
2
: the number of days per year for which an employer agrees to pay employees who are sick
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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