working day
B1Neutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
A day on which normal work is done, typically Monday to Friday.
Any day designated for work, including statutory holidays if they are worked; also, the period of time in a day during which one works.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
In UK contexts, often used to contrast with "bank holiday" or "weekend." In legal or business contexts, it may have a precise definition (e.g., excluding weekends and public holidays).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
British English slightly prefers "working day." American English uses both "workday" (one word, more common) and "working day," with "workday" being more typical in casual speech.
Connotations
Both share the same core meaning. No significant connotative difference.
Frequency
"Workday" is significantly more frequent in American English. "Working day" is standard in both, but slightly more characteristic of British usage.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
on a [adjective] working daywithin [number] working daysthe working day [verb: begins/ends/lasts]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A hard day's work”
- “From nine to five”
- “All in a day's work”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for deadlines, delivery times, and service agreements (e.g., 'Please allow 5-7 working days for delivery').
Academic
Used in economics, sociology, and history when discussing labour patterns and work-life balance.
Everyday
Used to discuss schedules, plans, and routines (e.g., 'My working day finishes at 6 pm').
Technical
Used in employment law, contracts, and logistics to define precise timeframes excluding weekends/public holidays.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I will working-day that task for tomorrow. (Note: 'working day' is almost never used as a verb. This is invalid.)
American English
- (Invalid as verb)
adverb
British English
- (Rarely used as an adverb. Example invalid.)
American English
- (Rarely used as an adverb.)
adjective
British English
- We offer next-working-day delivery for orders placed before 3 pm.
- The working-day schedule is posted in the break room.
American English
- We offer next-workday delivery for orders placed before 3 PM.
- The workday schedule is posted in the break room.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My working day starts at eight o'clock.
- Friday is the last working day of the week.
- I have a very long working day on Mondays.
- The bank said it would process the payment within two working days.
- The new policy aims to shorten the average working day for factory staff.
- A standard working day in this contract is defined as any day excluding public holidays.
- Despite the rise of flexible hours, the traditional nine-to-five working day remains deeply ingrained in corporate culture.
- Legislation was introduced to compensate employees for work conducted outside normal working days.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the phrase: "WORKING on a WEEKDAY." It's the DAY you go to WORK. The '-ing' connects the action (working) to the day.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A CONTAINER (The working day is a container filled with tasks and labour). PRODUCTIVITY IS A JOURNEY (Getting through the working day).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'рабочий день' for every context; sometimes 'business day' or 'weekday' is more accurate.
- The English phrase often excludes weekends by default, whereas the Russian 'рабочий день' can refer to any day of work, including Saturdays in some cultures.
- Do not confuse with 'labour day' (День труда).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'work day' as two separate words (acceptable but less standard than the compound forms).
- Confusing 'working day' with 'working hours'.
- Assuming it always means exactly 9 AM to 5 PM.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most precise synonym for 'working day' in a contract setting?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Weekday' is Monday-Friday. A 'working day' is any day on which work is done, which could include a Saturday, but typically excludes Sundays and public holidays.
They are synonyms. 'Workday' (one word) is more common in American English. 'Working day' (two words) is standard in British English and also understood everywhere.
It depends on the specific policy. Usually, the day of receipt is not counted. The count starts on the next working day. Always check the terms.
Yes, it can. For example, 'My working day is eight hours long.' The context usually makes it clear if it means the date or the duration.