workweek

American  

[wurk-week] / ˈwɜrkˌwik /

noun

1. the total number of regular working working hours or days in a week.

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workweek British  

/ ˈwɜːkˌwiːk /

noun

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): working week.  the number of hours or days in a week actually or officially allocated to work

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Usage

What does workweek mean? The workweek is the span of (often five) days that are not the weekend—the days when many people work.The standard workweek is from Monday through Friday, with Saturday and Sunday being considered the weekend, though working schedules vary widely. Many full-time jobs consist of a 40-hour workweek (five eight-hour days). In this sense, the workweek consists of all the time spent working in a week.The workweek can also be called the working week. A day of the workweek can be called a workday.The word week can sometimes be used to refer to the workweek, as in I can’t wait for this week to be over so I can spend the weekend relaxing. (Otherwise, week most commonly refers to any period of seven consecutive days or to the seven-day period on the calendar that begins on Sunday and ends on Saturday).Example: I’m usually too busy to do any of my hobbies during the workweek, but that’s how I spend my weekends. 

Etymology

Origin of workweek

First recorded in 1920–25; work + week

Example Sentences

We’re still waiting for the 15-hour workweek and for people to start retiring by 40 thanks to the proliferation of computers, as some predicted in the 1970s.

From The Wall Street Journal

Governments around the world are using everything from four-day workweeks to air conditioning bans to urge citizens to change their behavior to fend off the worst oil-and-gas crunch since the 1970s.

From The Wall Street Journal

Asian nations have implemented measures like four-day workweeks, school closures, and air conditioning bans to cut energy demand.

From The Wall Street Journal

Given that there is no significant change in the heat forecast for the rest of the workweek, forecasters predict many more daily temperature records will fall.

From Los Angeles Times

Employment rose modestly and the average workweek edged up but at a slower pace than February.

From The Wall Street Journal