What's the difference between a vacation and a sabbatical?

a sabatical implies you go off for a long time and do something else in order to gain knowledge or accomplish a task

a vacation is just time off

A vacation is an extended period of recreation, especially one spent away from home or in traveling. Usually, anyone can have their own vacation, whether a trip to the beach or somewhere more relaxing.

A sabbatical is a period of paid leave granted to a college teacher/professor for study or travel. Traditionally, this is done once every 7 years. This only applies to college teachers/professors, and not anyone else besides.

Sabbatical: any extended period of leave from one's customary work, esp. for rest, to acquire new skills or training, etc.

Vacation: a period of suspension of work, study, or other activity, usually used for rest, recreation, or travel; recess or holiday.

A vacation usually implies a short leisure time away from work.

A sabbatical, sometimes known as a hiatus, is a more extended leave which would be used to fulfill a goal.

A vacation is usually of short duration, a few weeks at most.

A sabbatical, on the other hand, is usually quite long, many months or even a year, away from an academic career, used to refresh yourself and also to pursue a related topic of interest, on which you will publish a paper, article or book on your return to your usual environment. Of course, the word is also used loosely to describe a longish period of downtime away from things other than academia.

Actually "sabbatical" implies - REST. Sabbatical is derived from the word sabbat which means- rest (and also "Sabbath"-day of rest). So to answer the question- a "vacation" (which actually means "an act or intent to leave") would imply an intentional brief departing from a vocation, and TO HAVE FUN, but temporary. A "sabbatical" would imply a needed prolonged rest. To further explain this lets.... Nevermind... they preaty much mean the same thing!!!!