plural curfews
1
a
: an order or law that requires people to be indoors after a certain time at night
The teens were stopped by police for violating the curfew.
The city ordered/imposed a curfew soon after the rioting started.
The town was placed under curfew.
b
: the period of time when such an order or law is in effect
No one is allowed on the streets during the curfew.
2
chiefly US
: the time set by a parent at which a child has to be back home after going out
He has a 10 o'clock curfew.
Cite this Entry
“Curfew.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/curfew. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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