time bill: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, Business, Financial, Legal
Quick answer
What does “time bill” mean?
A bill of exchange or promissory note that is payable at a specified future date, rather than on demand.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A bill of exchange or promissory note that is payable at a specified future date, rather than on demand.
A document detailing the amount of time spent on a task or project, used for billing purposes; historically, a financial instrument with a fixed maturity date.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood in both varieties but is more commonly found in historical or formal financial/legal texts. No significant spelling or structural difference.
Connotations
Connotes formal financial transactions, historical commerce, or professional services billing.
Frequency
Low frequency in general language. Slightly more likely to be encountered in American legal/business contexts regarding 'billable hours'.
Grammar
How to Use “time bill” in a Sentence
The company issued a [time bill] for the services rendered.The [time bill] matures in 60 days.They discounted the [time bill] at the bank.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “time bill” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The solicitor will time-bill the client for the consultation.
- They time-billed the project at an hourly rate.
American English
- The law firm time-billed the discovery phase.
- We need to time-bill these hours accurately.
adverb
British English
- The work was charged time-bill.
American English
- The contractor worked and billed time-bill.
adjective
British English
- The time-bill system is used by many chambers.
- He submitted a time-bill invoice.
American English
- The time-bill accounting method is standard here.
- She handles all time-bill matters.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Invoice based on recorded hours worked; a deferred payment instrument in transactions.
Academic
Studied in economics, finance, and legal history as a historical credit instrument.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
A precise term in banking, law, and accounting for a negotiable instrument payable at a future date.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “time bill”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “time bill”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “time bill”
- Using 'time bill' to mean a restaurant check presented after a certain time (incorrect).
- Confusing it with 'timesheet' (which records hours, but isn't a bill).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In modern general English, no. It is a specialist term found in historical, legal, and specific business contexts (e.g., law firms billing by the hour).
An 'invoice' is a general request for payment for goods or services. A 'time bill' specifically refers to an invoice based on hours worked or, historically, a bill of exchange with a future payment date.
Yes, in professional services contexts (e.g., 'to time-bill a client'), though it's less common than phrases like 'bill for time' or 'charge by the hour'.
For the 'hours worked' meaning, 'timesheet invoice' or 'billable hours invoice' are more transparent alternatives in everyday business communication.
Time bill is usually formal, business, financial, legal in register.
Time bill: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtaɪm ˌbɪl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtaɪm ˌbɪl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The time bill has come due.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'TIME to pay the BILL' but not now—later, at a specified future time.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A COMMODITY (it can be billed, sold, and has a future value).
Practice
Quiz
What is a key characteristic of a 'time bill' in finance?