Nine-to-five Definition & Meaning

Definition

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms nine-to-five American [nahyn-tuh-fahyv] / ˈnaɪn təˈfaɪv /

adjective

Informal.

1. 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.

2. 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.

Other Word Forms

• nine-to-fiver noun

Etymology

Origin of nine-to-five

First recorded in 1955–60

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.

The song opens with Battle fighting against the drudgery of his nine-to-five job.

From BBC

Sick of her nine-to-five job, she found the email address for an outreach worker at Cambridge, who helped her get on a degree course in theatre and education.

From BBC

In boxing, the story of the "working-class hero" - the athlete who still clocks in for a nine-to-five - is a great marketing hook.

From BBC

"Seeing these guys working a nine-to-five, coming to training and they are always up for it," he says.

From BBC

"I know for a fact that if I went into a normal nine-to-five job I wouldn't be able to afford my  bills ."

From BBC

Related Words

• activity
• appointment
• assignment
• business
• career
• office
• operation
• place
• position
• post
• profession
• situation
• spot
• stint
• task
• trade
• work

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.