screen time

noun

1

: the amount of time someone or something appears on screen in a movie or television show

… the widespread practice of product placement (in which companies buy screen time for their brands) …

—Celia Wren

Peck's role is only a cameo—23 minutes of screen time scattered through six and a half hours of edited film …

—John Skow

2

: time spent watching television, playing a video game, or using an electronic device with a screen (such as a smartphone or tablet)

Concerns about children spending too much time on digital devices—'screen time'—and becoming overdependent on these devices are very real for many teachers and parents.

—Nicky Hockly

If yours is like most American families with kids under age 5, your child probably watches between three and four hours of television a day. That's a lot of screen time …

—Debra Kent

Examples of screen time in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This is also a good time to set expectations around screen time, apps, games and online behavior. —Larry Magid, Mercury News, 25 Dec. 2025

Many people say carrying the accessory — typically packed with hobby supplies rather than electronic devices — has become their way to minimize their screen time. —Angela Yang, NBC news, 25 Dec. 2025

But before Anaconda the duo had never shared lead roles or extensive screen time. —Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 22 Dec. 2025

Some kids complain about headaches or tired eyes, especially after studying or engaging in screen time activities. —Matthew Kayser, Ascend Agency, 19 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1921, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for screen time

• airtime
• bedtime
• daytime
• downtime
• enzyme
• halftime
• lifetime
• longtime
• lunchtime
• mealtime
• meantime
• nighttime