day shift

American  

[dey shift] / ˈdeɪ ˌʃɪft /

noun

1. the workforce, as of a factory, scheduled to work during the daytime.

2. the scheduled period of labor for this workforce.

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day shift British  

noun

1. a group of workers who work a shift during the daytime in an industry or occupation where a night shift or a back shift is also worked

2. the period worked

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Etymology

Origin of day shift

First recorded in 1870–75

Compare meaning

How does day-shift compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• day shift vs. night shift

Example Sentences

Since the drama stars Noah Wyle as Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch, the attending physician on the day shift, associating it with NBC’s “ER” is understandable.

From Salon • Jun. 23, 2025

Ordinarily, between 1,700 and 2,000 job orders are posted during a typical day shift, and between 1,100 and 1,400 are posted during a standard night shift.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2025

However, most other proteins had rhythms that changed substantially in night shift participants compared to the day shift participants.

From Science Daily • May 9, 2024

A day shift also creates more chances to refer people to services, said Ewanio.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 1, 2023

Mom’s job is officially the day shift, seven a.m. to three p.m.

From "Liar & Spy" by Rebecca Stead