Workday

adj, noun

adj, noun ·2 syllables ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: Any of the days of a week on which work is done; any day in a workweek. The five workdays in many countries are usually Monday to Friday (and are defined as such in official and legal usage even though many people work on weekends).
  • Grammar: workday is listed as adj, noun.
  • Nearest alternatives: working day, 9 to 5, attic, breadwinning.
  • Useful contrasts: dominicus, german fest, national holiday.
  • Usage evidence: The fire and power outage resulted in a shortened workday at some exchanges in Manhattan's financial district.

How to use "workday"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "workday" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "workday" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "workday" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "workday" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "workday" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "working day" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "workday", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Any of the days of a week on which work is done; any day in a workweek. The five workdays in many countries are usually Monday to Friday (and are defined as such in official and legal usage even though many people work on weekends). US

    "It will take five workdays to process your application."

  2. 2
    the amount of time that a worker must work for an agreed daily wage wordnet
  3. 3
    That part of a day in which work is done. US

    "My workday is 8 hours."

  4. 4
    a day on which work is done wordnet
Adjective
  1. 1
    Alternative form of workaday. alt-of, alternative

Synonyms

All synonyms
working day9 to 5atticbreadwinningbusiness daybusinesslike

Antonyms

dominicusgerman festnational holidayunplanned day

Example

"The fire and power outage resulted in a shortened workday at some exchanges in Manhattan's financial district."

Common questions

What does "workday" mean?

Any of the days of a week on which work is done; any day in a workweek. The five workdays in many countries are usually Monday to Friday (and are defined as such in official and legal usage even though many people work on weekends).

What is a synonym for "workday"?

Common synonyms include: working day, 9 to 5, attic, breadwinning, business day, businesslike.

How do you use "workday" in a sentence?

The fire and power outage resulted in a shortened workday at some exchanges in Manhattan's financial district.

Etymology

From Middle English werkdai, werkedei, werkedai, from Old English weorcdæġ (“workday”), equivalent to work + day. Cognate with West Frisian wurkdei (“workday”), Dutch werkdag (“workday”), German Low German Warkdag (“workday”), German Werktag (“workday”). See also workaday.

More for "workday"