Definition of fortnight
: a period of 14 days : two weeks They stayed with us for a fortnight.
From the M-W Editors
Examples of fortnight in a Sentence
They stayed with us for a fortnight.
Recent Examples of fortnight from the Web
-
Yet this time, standing in the same spot at the lectern in Downing Street less than a fortnight later, there was a significant, dramatic step change in tone.
-
For the last fortnight, Trump has presented himself to the world as the caricature of the ugly American: loud, boorish and ill-informed.
-
The selection capped a tumultuous fortnight that began with Trump’s sudden ouster of former FBI Director James Comey two weeks earlier.
-
For those who hope (or fear) that the Trump Administration has been shell-shocked by the Russia scandals and paralyzed by the health-care mess, the past fortnight offers bracing reminders of the enduring power of the Presidency.
-
TODAY’S PUZZLE: This member of Lepidoptera increases its weight by 10,000 fold in approximately a fortnight.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fortnight'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of fortnight
Middle English fourtenight, alteration of fourtene night, from Old English fēowertȳne niht fourteen nights
Other Calendar Terms
FORTNIGHT Defined for English Language Learners
fortnight
playDefinition of fortnight for English Language Learners
-
: a period of 14 days : two weeks
FORTNIGHT Defined for Kids
Learn More about fortnight
-
See words that rhyme with fortnight Spanish Central: Translation of fortnight Nglish: Translation of fortnight for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of fortnight for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fortnight
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up fortnight? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!