night shift

[ nahyt shift ]

noun

1. the workforce, as of a factory, scheduled to work during the nighttime.
2. the scheduled period of labor for this workforce.

night shift

noun

1. a group of workers who work a shift during the night in an industry or occupation where a day shift or a back shift is also worked
2. the period worked

Word History and Origins

Origin of night shift¹

First recorded in 1700–10

Example Sentences

Robyn went to the Tavern in the Town on 21 November 1974 hoping to bump into a prospective boyfriend before he started his factory night shift.

From BBC

Security coverage, he said, now consists of night shifts during the week and additional shifts on the weekend.

From Los Angeles Times

"I'm starting at sunset, essentially to get that night shift out of the way first, because when the sun comes up you're rejuvenated," he said.

From BBC

On a summer afternoon in 2019, nurse Charlotte Lay got ready for her night shift as normal but "wasn't feeling quite right".

From BBC

There are long hours in enclosed buildings with limited contact with the outside world, and working night shifts “can be challenging for employees to endure,” the report said.

From Los Angeles Times