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• five o'clock shadow
  five o'clock shadow

  noun

  the rather dark stubble that appears on a man's face some hours after shaving, typically in the late afternoon if he shaved in the morning.
• five-o'clock shadow
  five-o'clock shadow

  noun

  beard growth visible late in the day on a man's shaven face

five o'clock shadow

American  

Or five-o'clock shadow

noun

1. the rather dark stubble that appears on a man's face some hours after shaving, typically in the late afternoon if he shaved in the morning.

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five-o'clock shadow British  

noun

1. beard growth visible late in the day on a man's shaven face

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Etymology

Origin of five o'clock shadow

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

PETALUMA, Calif.—Whiskers are spreading across American politics like a five o’clock shadow.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026

For years, the legendary Washington Post political cartoonist Herbert Block, aka Herblock, drew Richard Nixon with a menacing five o’clock shadow.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 29, 2024

This was the era of the clones... very short cropped hair, big moustache, strong five o'clock shadow, plaid shirts, tight jeans and builder's boots.

From BBC • Jul. 3, 2022

He was wearing a black warm-up jacket and black T-shirt, with a silver chain around his neck, gold hoops in both ears, a black baseball cap and a five o’clock shadow.

From New York Times • Dec. 21, 2021

A white five o’clock shadow crossed his face, and he looked tired, but he smiled.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel