Words / B1

GAP-y-eer/ˈɡæp jɪə/

A gap year (id: gap-year) is a year out between school and university, often spent working or travelling (UK). A deferral is the UCAS action; a sabbatical is usually later in a career. UCAS: a gap year still needs the place deferred; it is not an automatic hold.

Meaning

A year out between school and university, often spent working or travelling (UK).

Examples

• “A gap year still needs UCAS to be deferred; it is not an automatic hold.”
• “A gap-year volunteer still needs a DBS check to work with children.”

Good to know

a gap year; gap-year + student (hyphen as modifier). UCAS: defer. UK sixth-form / university. Countable years. Mix-up: a year gap on a CV is unexplained time — not always a planned gap year.

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