night school

American

noun

a school held in the evening, especially for working adults and others who are unable to attend school during the day.

night school British

noun

an educational institution that holds classes in the evening for those who are not free during the day

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of night school

First recorded in 1520–30

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.

Many are also beginners at education: Most had to be enrolled in the "first grade", said Silmang Pierre Ndior, an official at the Soeur Marie Luc Vaderloge literacy centre where they attend night school.

From Barron's • Feb. 6, 2026

Both, said the colleague, “really liked the night school crowd over the prep school crowd.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

"She went to night school, while my sisters were really small. Five kids all under the age of 10, while learning this new language. So to me she's this massive inspiration," said Bethany.

From BBC • Dec. 27, 2022

I work full time and am trying to go to night school.

From Slate • Dec. 22, 2022

He did two years of night school at City College in upper Manhattan—working during the days to make ends meet—signed up for the army, served his time, and applied to Harvard Law School.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023