standard time

noun

1. the civil time officially adopted for a country or region, usually the civil time of some specific meridian lying within the region. The standard time zones in the United States Atlantic time, Eastern time, Central time, Mountain time, Pacific time, Yukon time, Alaska-Hawaii time, and Bering time use the civil times of the 60th, 75th, 90th, 105th, 120th, 135th, 150th, and 165th meridians respectively, the difference of time between one zone and the next being exactly one hour.

standard time

noun

1. the official local time of a region or country determined by the distance from Greenwich of a line of longitude passing through the area

standard time

1. The time in any of the 24 time zones into which the Earth's surface is divided, usually the mean time at the central meridian of the given zone. There are four standard time zones in the contiguous continental United States: Eastern, using the 75th meridian; Central, using the 90th meridian; Mountain, using the 105th meridian; and Pacific, using the 120th meridian. Alaska Standard Time, centered on the 135th meridian, is one hour behind Pacific time, and Hawaii Standard Time, centered on the 150th meridian, is one hour behind Alaska time.
2. See more at daylight-saving time

Word History and Origins

Origin of standard time¹

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Example Sentences

For Cat, that means chowing down on her normal food, Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin, at standard times, even if that means pulling over mid-road trip for a food break.

From Outside Online

Fifty years ago, the state legislature opted to keep the clocks in most of the state in standard time all year.

From Vox

The time shift means we lose an hour of sleep, but in exchange we’ll enjoy more evening light for the next eight months — until we “fall back” to standard time again in early November.

From Washington Post

The dark winter mornings were not too popular, however, and ever since, we’ve switched the clocks back to standard time during the winter months.

From Washington Post

Environmentalists, favoring less energy consumption from morning heating and evening air conditioning, often support permanent standard time.

From No Straight News

At about 10:30 am eastern standard time, Bergdahl was released from his captors.

From The Daily Beast

He lived in Washington, but his moral time zone was set to Evil Standard Time.

From The Daily Beast

At precisely half past 9, Eastern Standard Time, the bell clanged away.

From The Daily Beast

The sun, I notice on this day when Daylight Saving has reverted to Standard Time, has imperceptibly set.

From The Daily Beast

Past that, things rocked along until the hands of the big standard-time clock in the despatcher's room pointed to midnight.

From Project Gutenberg

To Professor Langley, more than to any other person is due the effective regulation of standard time throughout the country.

From Project Gutenberg

Compare your watch with the time signals in the nearest telegraph office and find its correction referred to standard time.

From Project Gutenberg

A day and a half—Earth Standard Time—to construct an operating dam across the stream.

From Project Gutenberg

Standard time throughout the United States and Canada has been established in accord with this principle.

From Project Gutenberg