curfew

American  

[kur-fyoo] / ˈkɜr fyu /

noun

1. an order establishing a specific time in the evening after which certain regulations apply, especially that no civilians or other specified group of unauthorized persons may be outdoors or that places of public assembly must be closed.

2. a regulation requiring a person to be home at a certain prescribed time, as imposed by a parent on a child.

3. the time at which a daily curfew starts.

4. the period during which a curfew is in effect.

5. a signal, usually made with a bell, announcing the start of the time of restrictions under a curfew.

6. a bell for sounding a curfew.

7. (in medieval Europe) the ringing of a bell at a fixed hour in the evening as a signal for covering or extinguishing fires.

8. a metal cover for shielding a banked or unattended fire.

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curfew British  

/ ˈkɜːfjuː /

noun

1. an official regulation setting restrictions on movement, esp after a specific time at night

2. the time set as a deadline by such a regulation

3. 1. the ringing of a bell to prompt people to extinguish fires and lights

   2. the time at which the curfew bell was rung

   3. the bell itself

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Usage

What does curfew mean? A curfew is a specific time of day at which, by rule, you must be at home. It can also refer to the rule itself, or the period during which you must stay home. The word is typically used in two main ways: the curfew set by parents for their children, and the kind of curfew ordered by the government to limit public assembly after a certain time of night, especially during times of war or civil unrest. Parental curfews typically require the person under curfew to be home by a certain time at night. Government curfews generally require the same thing, but often have other conditions. Usually, civilians aren’t allowed outside after the stated time and must stay in their homes until the curfew is over. Such curfews are typically enforced by police or the military, and those who violate the curfew can be subject to consequences like fines or jail time. Government curfews are usually ordered to prevent large gatherings of people, such as those protesting, often with the stated intention of preventing violence or destruction of property. However, such curfews are sometimes criticized for violating the rights of citizens to peacefully assemble. Examples:

• If I’m not home by curfew, my parents are going to ground me for a month.
• After another night of protests, the mayor has ordered a citywide curfew starting at 6 p.m.

Etymology

Origin of curfew

1250–1300; Middle English < Anglo-French coverfeu, Old French covrefeu literally, (it) covers (the) fire. See cover, focus

Explanation

Curfew is a rule or law that sets a time that certain people have to be off the streets. A town may set a curfew for teenagers, for example, although many parents impose a stricter curfew for their own kids. Historically, a curfew was signaled by the ringing of a bell meant to alert residents that it was time to put out their hearth fires. The word curfew comes from an Old French word cuevrefeu, "cover fire," cuevre meaning to cover, and feu meaning fire. Over time, curfew has come to refer to getting people off the streets at night and into their homes, often during times of civil unrest.

Example Sentences

Paul McCartney headlined opening night and played 50-plus minutes after curfew.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

While authorities insist the situation is under control, the imposition of a curfew underscores the seriousness of the threat and the urgency of preventing further escalation.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

Dewale, of Great Harwood in Lancashire, was also sentenced to 10 days' community work, given a four-year football banning order, a three-month curfew, and fined £239 at Blackburn Magistrates' Court.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

Authorities have imposed a late-night curfew, which will remain in place until Wednesday in Gilgit and Skardu, where the army has been deployed on the streets.

From Barron's • Mar. 2, 2026

By now it was dark, and the streetlights were like spotlights highlighting fire hydrants, and kids out after curfew.

From "When I Was the Greatest" by Jason Reynolds

Related Words

• time limit