office hours

American  

plural noun

1. the hours during which a professional person or an office conducts regular business.

2. the hours a person spends working in an office.

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office hours British  

plural noun

1. the hours during which an office is open for business

2. the number of hours worked in an office

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Etymology

Origin of office hours

First recorded in 1795–1805

Example Sentences

The "Patriots Collaborate for Good Governance" forum on Tuesday was held during office hours and drew many elderly people.

From Barron's • Nov. 12, 2025

Last year, our employer made us sign new contracts with revised office hours, moving to the new four-day-in-office policy.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 28, 2025

Then he holds office hours to go over works in progress.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 20, 2025

Just before the Christmas break, a group of Labour backbench MPs submitted plans to curb sales of alcohol in Parliament during office hours to a committee looking at modernisation of Parliament.

From BBC • Jan. 15, 2025

Her office hours were over, so I walked around back and knocked on her door.

From "Silent To The Bone" by E.L. Konigsburg