definitions

nine-to-five

[ nahyn-tuh-fahyv ]
/ ˈnaɪn təˈfaɪv /
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR nine-to-five ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective Informal.

of, relating to, or during the workday, especially the hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. when offices are characteristically open for business: the nine-to-five grind.
of, reflecting, or exhibiting a lack of willingness to work beyond the required amount of time or with more than minimal effort: With your nine-to-five mentality, you'll never get a promotion.

RELATED CONTENT

Five English Words That Are Utterly UniqueAmazingly, the only English word with three Ys also happens to describe a rare astronomical event involving three heavenly bodies.
READ MORE
Five English Words That Are Utterly UniqueAmazingly, the only English word with three Ys also happens to describe a rare astronomical event involving three heavenly bodies.
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

task, appointment, office, business, career, assignment, work, spot, profession, stint, place, activity, position, post, trade, operation, situation, living, subsistence, sustenance

Nearby words

nine worthies, nine-banded armadillo, nine-days wonder, nine-eleven, nine-spot, nine-to-five, ninebark, ninefold, ninepence, ninepenny, ninepins

Origin of nine-to-five

First recorded in 1955–60

Related forms

nine-to-fiv·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019