fortnight
Fortnight (noun) means a period of two weeks. Example: “We're going on holiday for a fortnight in August.”
How to use fortnight
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTwo weeks, counted the old way — by nights rather than days.
Common in British and Australian English; rarely used in American English, where "two weeks" is standard.
Word forms
fortnights plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We're going on holiday for a _____ in August.
Etymology
From Old English feowertiene niht, literally "fourteen nights" — the Anglo-Saxons counted time by nights rather than days.
Synonyms
View more →Frequently asked questions
What does “fortnight” mean?
The word “fortnight” means a period of two weeks. In plain terms, two weeks, counted the old way — by nights rather than days.
How do you pronounce “fortnight”?
“Fortnight” is pronounced FAWT-nyt (/ˈfɔɹt.naɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “fortnight” in a sentence?
Here is “fortnight” used in a sentence: “We're going on holiday for a fortnight in August.”
What part of speech is “fortnight”?
“Fortnight” is a noun.
Where does the word “fortnight” come from?
The word “fortnight” comes from Old English. From Old English feowertiene niht, literally "fourteen nights" — the Anglo-Saxons counted time by nights rather than days.
Is “fortnight” a common word?
“Fortnight” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.