[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/fortnight/)

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# fortnight

noun (a fortnight, fortnights) — mainly UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ

«fortnight» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

A period of two weeks; fourteen days. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fortnight/#m1)

### In the lessons

Used in everyday life in Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, less in the USA and Canada (where people say "two weeks"). In maths: "a fortnight" means 14 days. Phrases: a fortnight ago, in a fortnight, every fortnight, fortnightly.

### Examples

- We're going on holiday for a fortnight. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fortnight/#x1)
- I'll see you in a fortnight. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fortnight/#x2)
- The library books are due back in a fortnight. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fortnight/#x3)
- How many days are there in three fortnights? Forty-two. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fortnight/#x4)
- She gets paid every fortnight. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fortnight/#x5)
- The magazine comes out fortnightly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fortnight/#x6)
- It was more than a fortnight since the Moon had shone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fortnight/#x7)

### Note

Comes from old English "fourteen nights". Maths: 1 fortnight = 14 days = 2 weeks; 2 fortnights = 28 days, not a full month. Americans may not know the word.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «fortnight» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fortnight/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«fortnight» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/fortnight.html) on Mova free.