Word
fortnight
Phoneticsfort·night, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈfɔɹtˌnaɪt/
UK/fˈɔːtnaɪt/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a period of two weeks. It is a common way to talk about time in British English.
n. a period of fourteen days or two weeks. Common in British and Commonwealth English; largely absent from North American usage.
Examples
“We are going on holiday for a fortnight.”
“The project team meets every fortnight to discuss their progress and set new goals for the next two weeks.”
“The publication is released once a fortnight, allowing the editorial team sufficient time to conduct deep investigative research between issues.”
Examples
simple
“We are going on holiday for a fortnight.”
contextual
“The project team meets every fortnight to discuss their progress and set new goals for the next two weeks.”
complex
“The publication is released once a fortnight, allowing the editorial team sufficient time to conduct deep investigative research between issues.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “fortnight” in context.
Usage
Commonly used with the prepositions 'in' or 'for'.
Real-World Examples
“In that regard the family was fortunate – they only had to wait a fortnight to get the results.” “Karović told the Guardian less than a fortnight after the incident that he did not remember much but had a painful head and neck.” Etymology
From Middle English fourtenyght, fourtene nyght, from Old English fēowertīene niht (literally “fourteen nights"; the Anglo-Saxons counted by nights), equivalent to fourteen + night. Compare sennight.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
INTERJECTION
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/fortnight