part time

¹ American  

[pahrt tahym] / ˈpɑrt ˈtaɪm /

noun

1. a period of time that is less than full time: PT, P/T

   Thirty-five hours a week is still considered part time.

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part-time ² American  

[pahrt-tahym, pahrt-tahym] / ˈpɑrtˌtaɪm, ˈpɑrtˈtaɪm /

adjective

1. employed, functioning, or working less than the customary or requisite number of hours.

   They had only enough money to hire a part-time clerk.

2. lasting, requiring, or being in force only a part of the time.

   part-time employment;

   part-time jobs.

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adverb

1. on a part-time basis.

   to work part-time.

part-time British  

adjective

1. for less than the entire time appropriate to an activity

   a part-time job

   a part-time waitress

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adverb

1. on a part-time basis

   he works part time

Other Word Forms

• part-timer noun

Etymology

Origin of part time¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Origin of part-time²

First recorded in 1890–95; adjective, adverb use of part time

Example Sentences

On his LinkedIn page, the man widely expected to be the BBC's new Director General describes himself as a "gap year student, part time athlete".

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

Inflation, healthcare costs and low or no savings are pushing many retirees to go back to work, even part time in low-paying jobs, to make ends meet.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 21, 2026

In addition to having a private practice, she worked part time at Amae Health, a Los Angeles clinic providing mental health and psychiatric care, the outlet said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026

I’m also considering driving Lyft part time, which might bring in $30,000 a year.

From Barron's • Jan. 14, 2026

She worked part time in a laboratory on campus to support herself too, but she had a hard time doing that when she lost him.

From "The Sky at Our Feet" by Nadia Hashimi