What does weekday mean?
Weekday names a day that belongs to the working part of the week rather than the weekend. In current everyday use, it usually refers to Monday through Friday, although a strict dictionary sense includes any day other than Saturday or Sunday. The word is neutral in register and often carries the practical implication that normal business, school, commuting, or scheduled activity is taking place. A weekday can be an individual calendar day, while weekdays can refer collectively to the recurring part of the week in which such routines operate. As an adjective, weekday modifies nouns such as hours, traffic, meals, or appointments, distinguishing ordinary working-day patterns from weekend ones. The term is common in both British and American English and can describe either people’s behavior or the timing of services. Historically, weekday comes from Old English wucudæg, literally “week day,” and its surviving relatives in several Germanic languages preserve the same combination of the words for week and day. Its long history and practical centrality make it a useful word for discussing routines, schedules, and the boundary between work and leisure.
A day of the week other than Saturday or Sunday, especially Monday through Friday when regarded as a working or school day.
"We visited the museum on a weekday, so it was unusually quiet."
The plural “weekdays” commonly refers collectively to Monday through Friday.
Relating to or occurring on a weekday, especially on Monday through Friday.
"The museum offers free entry during weekday hours."
This use commonly contrasts ordinary working-day schedules or conditions with those of the weekend.
The standard plural refers to multiple working or school days or, collectively, to Monday through Friday as a recurring period.
"The café gets busier on weekdays."
Old English called it wucudæg—literally “week day”—the linguistic ancestor of our five-day workweek.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does weekday come from?
The word developed in Old English as wucudæg, literally “week day,” and Middle English forms such as wikday continued the compound. Its components have relatives in other Germanic languages, including German Wochentag and Dutch weekdag, which likewise combine words meaning “week” and “day.” The modern form preserves the original meaning of a day distinguished from the days of rest or leisure associated with the weekend.
Related word forms
How weekday is actually used
The term is neutral in register and common in both British and American English. As a singular noun it identifies one day; as a plural it commonly denotes the recurring Monday-to-Friday period. Its adjective use often implies routine activity, business, school, or normal service hours.
Easily confused with weekday
A weekday is an ordinary working or school day, usually from Monday through Friday, whereas the weekend consists of Saturday and Sunday.