fortnight

American  

[fawrt-nahyt, -nit] / ˈfɔrtˌnaɪt, -nɪt /

noun

fortnights plural

1. the space of fourteen nights and days; two weeks.

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fortnight British  

/ ˈfɔːtˌnaɪt /

noun

1. a period of 14 consecutive days; two weeks

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• fortnights
  plural

Etymology

Origin of fortnight

First recorded before 1000; Middle English fourtenight, contraction of Old English fēowertēne niht; see fourteen, night

Explanation

A fortnight is fourteen nights, or two weeks. This word isn't used much in American English, but you'll come across it if you travel to England — or read a lot of old British novels. The word fortnight is still in use in Great Britain and some former British colonies. It comes from the Old English, and is literally a shortened form of fourteen nights. People sometimes use it when they're discussing their vacations or their pay schedules. In the United States, however, people typically just say "two weeks."

Example Sentences

Vaughan, who captained England in 51 Tests including the historic 2005 Ashes series, said he hoped the recent tumultuous fortnight was not the main reason for Stokes' decision.

From BBC • Jun. 28, 2026

These are three of the dozens of huge questions that confront a man who wasn't even an MP a fortnight ago.

From BBC • Jun. 28, 2026

Perhaps those lyrics reflect the mood in the camp after a fortnight that will live in English cricketing infamy.

From BBC • Jun. 24, 2026

There is a guaranteed minimum of 32 contracted Red Roses, with the announcement of which players have secured a deal to be made in the next fortnight.

From BBC • Jun. 23, 2026

This usually went on for at least a fortnight, by the end of which four or five items from each Junior and Senior year would have ended up in the billiards room.

From "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro