# fortnight

/ˈfɔɹtˌnaɪt/ (US) · /fˈɔːtnaɪt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fortnight
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

a period of two weeks. It is a common way to talk about time in British English.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used with the prepositions 'in' or 'for'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.