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

Workers in three states are now entitled to paid sick leave for the first time. —Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech, The Hill, 6 Nov. 2024

Minimum wage Missouri voters approved a measure to gradually raise the minimum wages to $15 an hour while also requiring paid sick leave. —David A. Lieb, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2024

Is there an increase in sick leave? Wigan’s advice? —Kate Vitasek, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024

In 2023 alone, the facility recorded 20 workplace injuries and one respiratory case, leading employees to take more than 40 days of sick leave that year. —Kunle Falayi, The Arizona Republic, 2 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1820, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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