fortnight
FAWT-nyt
Fortnight (noun) means a period of two weeks. Example: “We're going on holiday for a fortnight in August.”
noun
1
A period of two weeks.
"The NHS is bracing itself for its worst ever winter crisis descending in the next fortnight because of a worsening “flu-nami” that has left hospitals, GP surgeries and ambulances services under intense strain."
— Tobi Thomas, NHS bracing for worst ever winter crisis in next fortnight amid rising flu cases (2025)
"The “lame duck” Johnson Administration, in its final fortnight in office, grappled last week with a diplomatic hot potato in the form of the latest Soviet proposal for a “just and lasting” Middle East peace settlement."
— Benjamin Welles, A Hot Potato for Nixon (1969)
"On being kicked the girl fell desperately in love with Henri, and for a fortnight they lived together and spent a thousand francs of Henri's money."
— George Orwell pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair (1933)
"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.
UK vs US
Common in British and Australian English; rarely used in American English, where "two weeks" is standard.
Common pairings
a fortnight ago
in a fortnight
fortnight's notice
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Word forms
- Plural
- fortnights
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
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two weeks
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.
