night shift

American  

[nahyt shift] / ˈnaɪt ˌʃɪft /

noun

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

2. the scheduled period of labor for this workforce.

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night shift British  

noun

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

2. the period worked

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Etymology

Origin of night shift

First recorded in 1700–10

Compare meaning

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

• day shift vs. night shift

Example Sentences

"Two days ago, I was walking home early in the morning after my night shift when I heard loud booms," she said.

From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026

In 2026 the city holds the title European Capital of Culture, though culture has been working the night shift here for centuries.

From Salon • Mar. 8, 2026

Toxic gas is believed to have built up underground in poorly ventilated tunnels, causing the workers to collapse just before the end of their night shift.

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026

Lichtenstein notes that this phenomenon is of particular concern for women, especially those—as is the case here—working the night shift.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 19, 2025

It was the same H-E-B where his mother worked, although it had been a few years since she’d had to work the night shift.

From "Small Steps" by Louis Sachar