hot-desking

IPA/ˈhɒt deskɪŋ/
IPA/ˈhɑːt deskɪŋ/

hot-desking — noun

1. an office system in which employees reserve a desk for the hours or days they ne

1.nounB2
Definition

an office system in which employees reserve a desk for the hours or days they need to be in the office, rather than having a fixed desk permanently assigned to them

Example

Ravindra prefers hot-desking because he can choose a spot near the window each morning.

Many companies adopt hot-desking to reduce office rent and furniture costs.

Common collocations
  • adopt hot-desking
  • introduce hot-desking
  • implement hot-desking
  • hot-desking policy
  • hot-desking system
  • hot-desking arrangement
Synonyms
  • flexible seating

    broader term that includes other non-assigned seating arrangements beyond desks

  • activity-based working

    a wider concept where employees choose spaces based on the task, not just a desk

Antonyms

Usage Note

Always treated as a singular uncountable noun. Most common in discussions about workplace flexibility and office-space management.

Common Mistakes

Hot-desking are popular in modern offices.
Hot-desking is popular in modern offices.
'hot-desking' is uncountable and takes a singular verb.

Word family

  • hot-desk
    verbB2
  • hot-desker
    nounC1
  • hot-desk
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

While hot-desking, flexible seating, and activity-based working all involve non-assigned workspaces, they differ in scope. 'Hot-desking' specifically means reserving any free desk on a first-come or booking basis — the desk itself is temporary. 'Flexible seating' is a broader term covering any arrangement where workers choose where to sit (including sofas, booths, or standing stations). 'Activity-based working' is the widest concept: employees move between zones designed for specific tasks (quiet focus, collaboration, calls). For example, a company might introduce hot-desking to cut costs, then later shift to full activity-based working by adding quiet pods and meeting booths.

flexible seatingactivity-based workingopen-plan office

Common collocations

Nouns

Etymology

English

Formed by combining the adjective 'hot' (meaning ready for immediate use, as in 'hot standby' or 'hot swap') with 'desk', then adding '-ing' to form a noun describing the practice. The term 'hot desk' originally referred to a desk that could be used by anyone at any time, much like a 'hot line' is always available. The practice and the name became common in the 1990s as companies began adopting flexible office layouts.