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quiet quitting

American  
[kwahy-it kwit-ing] / ˈkwaɪ ɪt ˈkwɪt ɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act of deliberately doing the bare minimum at one's job, often in response to frustration with working conditions, expectations, or pay.

    Poor investment in worker satisfaction can lead to disengagement and quiet quitting.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of quiet quitting

First recorded in 2022

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.

Think of it as quiet quitting rather than a Sell America frenzy.

From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026

With that in mind, quiet quitting is the best we can hope for.

From Salon • Dec. 17, 2025

Dr Neill described an "era of quiet quitting" among doctors who feel "powerless" and "restricted" in their ability to do the job.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2024

I am not yet eligible to retire, unlikely at my age to find another job that pays nearly as well and not cut out for quiet quitting.

From New York Times • Oct. 28, 2023

If there’s quiet quitting a relationship, it appears that’s what Common’s approach was.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 24, 2023

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.