: a unit of one hour's work by one person that is used especially as a basis for cost accounting and wages

Examples of man-hour in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Collecting and processing surveillance data automatically—ideally from multiple layers of sensors across the frontline—would save hundreds of man-hours a week. Eric Schmidt, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2025 As the Wall Street Journal reported, manufacturers spent about $709 million and more than six million man-hours attempting to trace their supply chains for conflict minerals in 2014. John Berlau, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025 The 39 members of the Landmark Center Volunteer Association donated the equivalent of almost $90,000 in man-hours last year toward tours, an information desk and other program support. Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 8 June 2025 After devoting countless man-hours to obfuscating in courtrooms and legal briefs, the administration has finally availed itself of this obvious option. The Editors, National Review, 7 June 2025 Today, the rate is as little as a single man-hour assuming multiple steel mills are working in tandem. Rob Wile, NBC news, 4 June 2025 For example, upgrading Java versions—a task that previously took six weeks—was reduced to just six hours, saving a significant number of man-hours. Shilpa Shastri, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025 Involuntary deportation soaks up expensive man-hours of ICE agents or other law enforcement. The Editors, National Review, 7 May 2025 This is enough man-hours to build four Nimitz-class U.S. Navy aircraft carriers. Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 5 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of man-hour was in 1912

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Cite this Entry

“Man-hour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/man-hour. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

man-hour

noun
ˈman-ˈau̇(-ə)r
: a unit of one hour's work by one worker used especially as a basis for wages and in accounting
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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