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daylight saving

American  
Or daylight savings

noun

  1. the practice of advancing standard time by one hour in the spring of each year and of setting it back by one hour in the fall in order to gain an extra period of daylight during the early evening.


Etymology

Origin of daylight saving

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As a result proposals to end the twice-yearly clock change have repeatedly stalled, and there are currently no plans to alter daylight saving in the UK.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

Although originally a wartime measure, daylight saving became a lasting feature in many countries, continuing to shape daily routines, work patterns, and how people experience daylight throughout the year.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

Congress amended the law in 1986 to begin daylight saving time on the first Sunday in April and end it on the last Sunday of October.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 7, 2026

A 2025 Gallup poll found that the majority of Americans say they are ready to do away with the time shift, with 48% preferring standard time year round and 24% preferring daylight saving year round.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 7, 2026

He maintained sagely that there is always a trade-off involved in the adoption of any policy, and that if daylight saving time were instituted, curtains and other fabrics would fade more quickly.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos