noun
1. : a period of absence from duty due to illness or other disability
the foreign secretary was on sick leave when the decisions were taken — New Statesmen & Nation
ill health required several sick leaves — C.D.Rhodes
2. : an allowance of paid leave specified in days or hours per month or year that is granted to employees or salaried personnel for absence due to illness or other disability
entitled to 40 hours' sick leave each calendar year — New South Wales Industrial Gazette
as a rule, sick leave accumulates at the same rate, namely eighteen days each year — Employment Opportunities in the Civil Service (Canada)
3. : sick pay
paid us sick leave for the six weeks Jack was in hospital — Sat. Eve. Post