weeknight

[ week-nahyt ]

noun

1. any night of the week, usually except Saturday and Sunday.

adjective

1. Also week·night·ly [] of, on, or for a weeknight:

   the weeknight lineup of TV programs.

weeknight

/ ˈwiːkˌnaɪt /

noun

1. the evening or night of a weekday

Word History and Origins

Origin of weeknight¹

First recorded in 1855–60; week + night

Example Sentences

I suspect that some purists will find this mole sauce too simple—recipes for mole usually contain several different types of chiles—but for a quick weeknight meal, it worked great.

From Outside Online

This recipe takes a different tack, marrying sliced peaches in a skillet with pork chops and savory seasonings for a weeknight dinner.

From Washington Post

Many of the ingredients are among my pantry staples — an onion, gochujang, that jar of kimchi sitting in the back of my fridge — so cooking this on a weeknight is perfectly manageable.

From Eater

One of the things that makes lentils so easy to incorporate into weeknight cooking, however, is that they cook so quickly.

From Washington Post

Here’s how to pick and prepare them, whether you plan to serve them at a holiday feast or for a weeknight dinner.

From Washington Post

His weeknight program, “Coast-to-Coast AM,” discussed aliens, paranormal activity, and shadowy government cover-ups.

From The Daily Beast

Meyers still has a way to go if he wants to make his new weeknight gig must-see daily viewing.

From The Daily Beast

So Serralunga or Monforte Barolo if my wallet is bulging, or Dolcetto is more likely on a weeknight.

From The Daily Beast

Cream sauce is a little heavy for a weeknight meal, but creamy sauce is totally acceptable.

From The Daily Beast

While no one wants to follow a quick weeknight dinner with a heart attack, the appeal of this simple dish is undeniable.

From The Daily Beast

More About Weeknight

What is a weeknight?

A weeknight is the evening of a weekday—any day that is not a weekend day.

Since the weekend is considered to consist of Saturday and Sunday, the weekdays are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

The word week most commonly refers to any period of seven consecutive days, or to the seven-day period on the calendar that begins on Sunday and ends on Saturday. However, in weekday and weeknight, it refers to the five-day period that’s often considered the workweek or school week. The standard workweek is from Monday through Friday, though working schedules vary widely.

For this reason, terms like weekday and weeknight are typically used—instead of just saying day or night—to distinguish them from the days and nights on the weekend.

The similar terms work night and school night refer to nights when a person has to work or go to school the next day. Weeknight doesn’t necessarily imply this, but most people are probably less likely to call Friday night a weeknight since Friday evening is often considered the start of the weekend (though Friday is still considered a weekday.)

Weeknight is commonly used as an adjective, as in weeknight dinner. 

The word weeknights can be used as an adverb meaning on weeknights, as in I work weeknights, but I’m free weekends. 

Example: I don’t usually like to be out so late on a weeknight, but I couldn’t miss this!

Where does weeknight come from?

The first records of the word weeknight come from around the 1700s. The word weekday is much older, first recorded before the 900s.

Many people spend their weekend nights going out, spending time with friends, and staying up later. In contrast, weeknights are often work nights or school nights, when people tend to go to sleep earlier. This is what people are referring to when they say they’re out late for a weeknight. 

The word weeknight should not be confused with a wee knight, which is a very small knight whose shining armor is probably too heavy for the little guy! (Good luck not thinking about this every time you see the word weeknight now.)

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to weeknight?

• weeknights (plural noun, adverb)

What are some words that share a root or word element with weeknight? 

 

• weekday
• workday
• weekend
• workweek
• week
• night

What are some words that often get used in discussing weeknight?

• Monday
• Tuesday
• Wednesday
• Thursday
• Friday

How is weeknight used in real life?

The word weeknight is typically used to distinguish a night as being one during the workweek as opposed to one on the weekend.

Here are the go-to dishes that our editors cook on weeknights when there isn't much time: https://t.co/s33Rb0nTrh pic.twitter.com/rwgk9Osm99

— Food52 (@Food52) December 16, 2015

Staying up late on a weeknight makes me feel so nostalgic.

— Jenn Im (@imjennim) August 17, 2016

My weekly 7mile walks are slowly starting to pay off with weight-loss. With the park being open weeknights and typically slow, I hope to go over and take a walk each night.

— Chris Cronrath #BLM (@Ccron10) December 7, 2020

 

 

Try using weeknight!

True or False? 

Tuesday night is a weeknight.