workday

USAGE SUMMARY

'workday' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It can refer to any day of the week set aside to do work or it can be used to describe a day that is particularly long and arduous. For example, "Today was a long workday- I stayed at my desk for twelve hours!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Many began the workday earlier or switched to night shifts.

The Economist

Colourful beanbags and espresso machines may have replaced the coffee pot and bland office furniture, and the "all-night work party" may have replaced the Saturday workday.

The Economist

The workday and the exertions of the new school term will compete with it for Scots' time.

The Economist

Finding a venue for a workday or a business meeting can be tough and time consuming: many buildings only offer certain amenities; most don't offer online booking.Booking space on sites like Zipcube also beats other alternatives.

The Economist

It doesn't service the southern half of the Bay Area where the majority of traffic is headed each workday.

The Economist

I think MPs will appreciate the chance to mingle with other, hard-working public servants at the end of the workday, while helping the Treasury to pay down part of our trillion-pound debt.Nigel Williams ChesterSIR – It is nice to hear that at least one MP made good use of his expenses.

The Economist

Ms Bachelet's son has been at the centre of an influence-peddling scandal.Venezuela's government decided to shorten the workday for public employees, from eight or nine hours to five-and-a-half, to savenergygy.

The Economist

So irksome is the hot-desking problem, it was made fun of in "W1A", the broadcaster's recent navel-gazing sitcom.To alleviate the pain, BBC employees could open their web browser and seek alternative workday shelter.

The Economist

Although it aired at 1pm on a workday, nearly 7m people viewed Argentina's opening game against Bosnia-Herzegovina at that point, the highest rating on the channel in all of 2014.

The Economist

I drove down streets thick with workday traffic, then peered around corners and saw now-empty lots strewn with giant-sized toothpicks the remnants of houses, foundations still protruding uselessly from the churned earth and overturned cars.The tornado that hit the Oklahoma City area yesterday was, alas, immense.

The Economist

However, the document also guarantees an eight-hour workday and one month of paid vacation per year.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the length of a "workday", be specific by providing the number of hours. For instance, "My workday is typically eight hours long."

Common error

Avoid confusing "workday" with "weekday". "Workday" refers to the portion of the day dedicated to work, while "weekday" refers to any day of the week that isn't Saturday or Sunday.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "workday" is as a noun, referring to the period of time during which one works, or a day on which work is performed. Ludwig AI confirms its use in various contexts, as seen in the examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Social Media

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "workday" is a common and grammatically correct noun that refers to either the part of a day dedicated to work or a day on which work is performed. As Ludwig AI indicates, "workday" is versatile and appears frequently in news, encyclopedias, and business contexts. When using "workday", it's crucial to distinguish it from similar terms like "weekday". For greater clarity, specify the length of the "workday" in hours and consider using synonyms like "working day" or "business day" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

working day

Synonymous alternative, emphasizing the activity of working during the day.

day of work

Simple alternative to express a day dedicated to work.

business day

Focuses on days when businesses are typically open and operating.

nine-to-five

Informal term referring to a standard work schedule.

day's labor

Emphasizes the physical or mental effort involved in work.

daily grind

Informal and often negative term for the routine of daily work.

day at the office

Referring to time spent working in an office environment.

time on the job

Focuses on the time spent performing a specific job.

period of work

More formal way of describing time spent working.

shift

Highlights the duration of a worker's activities.

FAQs

How do you use "workday" in a sentence?

You can use "workday" to refer to the portion of the day dedicated to work, as in "My "workday" starts at 9 AM", or to any day you perform work.

What's the difference between "workday" and "weekday"?

"Workday" refers to the part of a day spent working, whereas "weekday" refers to any day of the week that isn't a weekend. For example, Monday to Friday are considered weekdays.

What are some synonyms for "workday"?

Alternatives for "workday" include "working day", "business day", or even "nine-to-five", depending on the context.

Can "workday" refer to a specific day of the week?

Yes, "workday" can refer to any day of the week that someone is working, regardless of whether it's a typical "weekday".