Staycation – Meaning & Etymology

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Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond studied Advanced Writing & Editing Essentials at MHC. She’s been an International and USA TODAY Bestselling Author for over a decade. And she’s worked as an Editor for several mid-sized publications. Candace has a keen eye for content editing and a high degree of expertise in Fiction.

Have you ever dreamed of a vacation but hated the hassle of traveling? I know myself; I despise flying or driving long distances, and sometimes funds are a little tight. But there’s a solution for that – a staycation! What’s a staycation, you ask? I’ll explain what a staycation is, where the term comes from, and even teach you how to pronounce it.

Staycation Meaning: What Is a Staycation?

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In English, a staycation is a blended word we made up and use to describe a vacation spent at home or at least close to home, where you take time off work and focus on relaxing and having fun. Instead of traveling to a far-off destination down South or overseas, you might take the time, save some money, and visit local attractions, try new restaurants, or just be a couch potato at home.

Etymology of Staycation

The term “staycation” is a combination of the words “stay” and “vacation.” It first appeared in print in the United States in the mid-2000s. The concept quickly gained popularity during the financial crisis of 2007-2008, when many people were trying to find more affordable ways to enjoy some time off.

We saw it rise again during the recent pandemic, and now again as we breach another worldwide recession with inflation and such.

What Is an Example of a Staycation?

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Staycations might look like taking a week off work and planning activities close to where you live. You could visit a nearby museum, plan a picnic in a local park, drive to the next town or city, try out that new restaurant you heard about, or spend a day at the beach or a lake.

During the COVID pandemic, my husband and I took the kids and spent time at our off-grid lake house, traveled around the province, checked out beaches we’d never been to, and even drove to our capital city to enjoy things like the movie theater and a few museums.

How to Pronounce Staycation

It’s pronounced like vacation, but with the word stay, so you’d say it as “stay-kay-shn,” with the emphasis on the second syllable.

Examples of Using Staycation in a Sentence

  • Unfortunately, my boss can’t give me time off this summer, so I’ll have a mini staycation instead and explore my beautiful city.
  • I was so thankful we lived in a beautiful province like Newfoundland during the pandemic because we staycationed all over the place.
  • We’re planning an epic staycation for spring break. We will visit local museums and parks and spend quality time at home. It’ll be fun, and we’ll save some money.
  • Since I didn’t have much money for a vacation, I did a staycation and spent the week reading, gardening, and catching up on my Netflix shows. It was better than a trip to Mexico!
  • With the pandemic still ongoing, many people are choosing to have a staycation instead of traveling far from home. It’s smart and safe.
  • We’re very much looking forward to our upcoming staycation. We hope to enjoy local restaurants and spend time hiking in nearby nature reserves.

Try a Staycation!

A staycation is a great way to recharge and relax without the stress of travel. It’s a cost-effective and enjoyable option for those who can’t or don’t want to travel far from home. It’s definitely a fun blended word, so play around with it!