office-hours
/ˈɒf.ɪs ˌaʊəz/ IELTSAcademic
noun
Specific times when a teacher, professor, doctor, or office worker is available to meet people. It is often used in schools, colleges, and workplaces.
- The professor is in office-hours on Tuesdays.
- Please come during office-hours.
- She answered questions in office-hours.
Adinary Nuance
Office-hours is more specific than "working hours" or "business hours." It means a time for meetings or help, not just the time a place is open. In education, it usually means a teacher's or professor's available time for students.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- giờ làm việc
- Spanish
- horario de atención
- Chinese
- 办公时间
- Japanese
- オフィスアワー
- Korean
- 오피스 아워
Etymology
Office hours comes from the common English phrase office hours, used in the 19th century for the time a worker is available in an office. In schools and colleges, it later became a set phrase for meeting time with teachers and professors.
Common phrases
during office-hoursoffice-hours schedulehold office-hoursoffice-hours policy
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is office-hours singular or plural?
- It is usually used in the plural form, even for one regular time slot.
- Is office-hours used in schools?
- Yes. Teachers and professors often use it for student meetings.
- How is office-hours different from business hours?
- Business hours are when a place is open. Office-hours are when someone is available to meet.