timecard: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Both "timecard" (closed compound) and "time card" (open compound) are found, but the single-word form is more common in American English, especially in digital contexts.

They are often used interchangeably. Historically, a 'timecard' was a physical card punched by a clock, while a 'timesheet' could be a paper or digital log. Today, 'timesheet' is more generic and can be used for salaried project tracking, while 'timecard' strongly implies hourly wage tracking.

Typically, salaried employees are not required to use a timecard as they are paid a fixed amount regardless of hours. However, they may use a 'timesheet' to track project hours for client billing or internal monitoring.

It literally means to insert a physical card into a time clock to stamp the time of arrival or departure. Figuratively, it means to work a regular job where one's hours are strictly monitored, often a manual or routine job.

A physical card or digital record on which an employee's work hours are logged, used for calculating pay.

Timecard is usually formal, professional, business in register.

Timecard: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtaɪm.kɑːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtaɪm.kɑːrd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.