part time

US: (adj. pärt′tīm′; adv. pärt′tīm′)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

part′ time′, 

1. a period of time that is less than the usual or full time. Cf. full time. 

• 1890–95

part-time  (adj. pärt′tīm′;adv. pärt′tīm′), adj. 

1. employed to work, used, expected to function, etc., less than the usual or full time:
   a part-time clerk.
2. lasting, requiring, or being in force only a part of the time:
   part-time employment; part-time jobs.

adv. 

3. on a part-time basis:
   to work part-time.
   Cf. full-time. 

• adjective, adjectival, adverb, adverbial use of part time 1890–95

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

part-time /adj. ˈpɑrtˌtaɪm; adv. ˈpɑrtˈtaɪm/   adj. 

1. working or attending school on less than a full-time schedule:
   The number of part-time students has increased.
2. relating to such work or study:
   part-time employment.

adv. 

3. on a part-time basis:
   was working part-time.

part--tim•er, n. [countable]

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

part-time adjective

1. for less than the entire time appropriate to an activity: a part-time job, a part-time teacher

adverb part time

1. on a part-time basis: he works part time

Compare full-time

ˌpart-ˈtimer noun