chronotype

American  

[kroh-nuh-tahyp, kron-uh-, kroh-noh-] / ˈkroʊ nəˌtaɪp, ˈkrɒn ə-, ˈkroʊ noʊ- /

noun

1. the tendency to be naturally more active or wakeful at a particular period of the day, varying in humans by individual and stage of life, and sometimes linked to other behaviors or to personality type.

   Typical office schedules cater to those with a morning chronotype, but some workers may be most productive in the late afternoon.

   Chronotype reflects a spectrum ranging from extreme preference for morning activity to extreme preference for evening activity.

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Etymology

Origin of chronotype

First recorded in 1970–75; chrono- ( def. ) + type ( def. )

Example Sentences

It was when it reported on matters of which I had zero awareness: my HRV balance, for example, or my chronotype, albeit a wishy-washy “late morning,” a designation I plan to flip to early bird.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

The researchers identified several notable patterns when comparing chronotype groups:

From Science Daily • Jan. 30, 2026

Your ideal rise time is linked to your chronotype, your genetic predisposition to waking at a certain time.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 11, 2026

With the remaining chronotype groups' mid-sleep times were somewhere in between these extremes.

From Science Daily • Dec. 21, 2023

"The consequence of that is some people may tend to shift to a later shift schedule, which may mean that they may look more like an evening chronotype or night owl," he said.

From Salon • Sep. 12, 2023