Slang dictionary
quietcation
ºÚÁÏÍø is a quietcation?
A quietcation, also sometimes called “silent travel,” is just what it sounds like: a vacation that promotes noiseless tranquility. In today’s digitally connected world, people are turning to quietcations to unplug and recharge. For city dwellers, quietcations offer an escape from the sensory overload of urban living.
Quietcations often involve staying in remote, WiFi-free locations or at resorts that promote calming activities like meditative nature walks and dedicated digital detox hours. Some resorts even have specific areas and services that cater to silence and solitude.
(Note that a quietcation isn’t the same as “quiet vacationing,” where employees travel without using PTO — sometimes working remotely, but other times faking productivity with automated tools.)
Where does quietcation come from?
Quietcation, a blend of the words quiet and vacation, is thought to have first appeared online in August 2010, when blogger Jenifer Hanen coined “quiet-cation” to describe staying home in “blessed silence” while her family vacationed. However, this early meaning aligns more closely with a “staycation.” A quietcation can involve staying home or traveling, as long as it involves time away from noise and technology.
In early 2025, quietcation as we now know it began receiving widespread media coverage in publications including Bustle and Good Housekeeping. Around this time, the term also gained traction on social media, although some users had mentioned it several years prior.
Examples of quietcation
Who uses quietcation?
Any person seeking peace and quiet might use the term quietcation, but it seems to be most popular with younger professionals and city dwellers. Retirees and empty-nesters, overtaxed parents, independent travelers, and those interested in mindfulness activities may also take quietcations (though they may not necessarily use the term).Â
Note
This is not meant to be a formal definition of quietcation like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of quietcation that will help our users expand their word mastery.
