happy hour

American  

noun

happy hours plural

1. a cocktail hour or longer period at a bar, during which drinks are served at reduced prices or with free snacks.

   happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m.

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happy hour British  

noun

1. a time, usually in the early evening, when some pubs or bars sell drinks at reduced prices

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happy hour Idioms  

1. A period in the late afternoon or early evening when a bar or lounge features drinks at reduced prices. For example, The hotel bar has a happy hour from five to seven every day. [1960s]

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• happy hours
  plural

Etymology

Origin of happy hour

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

happy hour

I understand that the Reconstruction Amendments might not feel like the most compelling discussion topic for happy hour.

From Slate ● Jul. 20, 2026

"My friends and I love happy hour, just like many of you do," she told them.

From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026

McCarrick has recently started selling her services directly to workers, teaching them what to say when your boss’s boss approaches you at happy hour, for a few hundred dollars a month.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026

It’s great for dinner parties or a casual happy hour snack and will have everyone thinking you paid for catering.

From Salon ● May 22, 2026

Before leaving for happy hour, Bull placed a call to his home.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy