fortnight

IPA/ˈfɔːtnaɪt/
KK[fˈɔrtnˌaɪt]IPA/ˈfɔːrtnaɪt/

fortnight — noun

  • fortnightsingular
  • fortnightsplural

1. a length of time covering fourteen consecutive days, used especially in British

1.nounB1
Definition

a length of time covering fourteen consecutive days, used especially in British English when talking about travel, scheduled events, or payment cycles.

Example

The Watanabe family went on a fortnight's holiday to the south coast of France.

fortnight's + noun (holiday) — possessive determiner

We meet every fortnight to discuss the book we have all been reading.

every fortnight = every two weeks (frequency adverb)

Common collocations
  • a fortnight
  • the fortnight
  • every fortnight
  • each fortnight
  • a fortnight's holiday
  • a fortnight's notice
  • a fortnight's leave
  • for a fortnight
  • in a fortnight
  • within a fortnight
  • over a fortnight
  • the past fortnight
  • the next fortnight
  • the whole fortnight
Synonyms
  • two weeks

    More common internationally and in American English; neutral register.

  • fourteen days

    More formal or precise; often used in legal or medical contexts.

Grammar Patterns

fortnight (singular)

a fortnight

a fortnight's + noun

every fortnight

Usage Note

This term is strongly associated with British English; speakers of American English almost always use 'two weeks' instead. When used before another noun, the possessive form is standard: 'a fortnight's holiday', 'a fortnight's notice'.

Common Mistakes

We have a fortnight break from school.
We have a fortnight's break from school.
Before a noun, use the possessive form 'fortnight's'.
I will see you in fortnight.
I will see you in a fortnight.
'Fortnight' is a countable noun and needs a determiner (a, the, every, each).

Word family

  • fortnightly
    adjectiveB2
  • fortnightly
    adverbB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three expressions refer to the same fourteen-day span but differ in region and register. 'Fortnight' is the standard term in British English for everyday use — talking about holiday plans, rent cycles, or deadlines. 'Two weeks' is more neutral and is the default choice in American English as well as in international contexts. 'Fourteen days' sounds more formal or precise and appears most often in legal documents, medical prescriptions, or scientific writing. For example, a British person might say 'I'm going on holiday in a fortnight,' whereas an American would say 'I'm going on vacation in two weeks,' and a contract might state 'the tenant must give fourteen days' notice.' Learners should match the expression to their audience: use 'fortnight' with British readers or in UK-style writing, and 'two weeks' elsewhere.

fortnight ↗two weeksfourteen days

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • a fortnight ago
  • every fortnight
  • once a fortnight
  • a fortnight today
  • a fortnight tomorrow

Prepositions

Etymology

GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Comes from the Old English phrase 'fēowertīene niht' meaning 'fourteen nights'. In early Germanic cultures, time was often counted by nights rather than days — so 'fourteen nights' came to mean a two-week period. The word shortened through Middle English forms like 'fourtenight' into the modern 'fortnight'.