fortnight

noun

fort·​night ˈfȯrt-ˌnīt How to pronounce fortnight (audio)
: a period of 14 days : two weeks
They stayed with us for a fortnight.

Examples of fortnight in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Our dates were limited to once a fortnight, which was the perfect frequency, given our respective scheduling needs. Natalie Babcock, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2023 And over the past fortnight, that is what seems to have happened with the cork wedge: a shoe synonymous with people who wear maxi-dresses at local bake sales. Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 7 Aug. 2023 After a fortnight of unfettered positivity and interest on social media (including some amateur experimental attempts that were streamed on Twitch), authoritative efforts from physicists around the world to double-check the South Korean team’s claims have mostly deflated the hype. Lauren Leffer, Scientific American, 14 Aug. 2023 Was dead for another fortnight since none of them bother their hole with me for a minute. Daniela Avila, Peoplemag, 26 July 2023 Enter Email Sign Up The matchup on Centre Court at the All England Club to close the fortnight is absolutely the one both men expected. Howard Fendrich, BostonGlobe.com, 15 July 2023 The prices of both Urals and Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, have risen 23% and 10% respectively over the past fortnight, according to Argus Media data. Anna Cooban, CNN, 13 July 2023 When Paris was awarded the 2024 Olympics a half-dozen years ago, the world was looking forward to an enchanting fortnight in the City of Light. John Powers, BostonGlobe.com, 22 July 2023 With her combination of power and finesse—an arsenal of drop shots, lobs, and other specialist shots—Jabeur has made a fearsome opponent over the fortnight, as well as at her two previous major finals (both last year, at Wimbledon and the US Open). Vogue, 15 July 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fortnight.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fourtenight, alteration of fourtene night, from Old English fēowertȳne niht fourteen nights

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fortnight was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near fortnight

Cite this Entry

“Fortnight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fortnight. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

fortnight

noun
fort·​night ˈfōrt-ˌnīt How to pronounce fortnight (audio)
ˈfȯrt-
: a period of 14 days : two weeks
fortnightly
-lē
adverb or adjective
Etymology

Old English fēowertȳne niht "fourteen nights"

More from Merriam-Webster on fortnight

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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