PTO

American  

[pee-tee-oh] / ˈpiˈtiˈoʊ /

abbreviation

1. paid time off; personal time off: a block of hours that combines all of an employee’s paid sick days, personal days, and vacation time.

2. parent-teacher organization: an organization made up of parents and teachers at a school that works together to promote mutual understanding and to increase the effectiveness of the educational program.

3. Patent and Trademark Office.

4. please turn over (a page or leaf). null P.T.O., p.t.o.

5. Machinery. power takeoff.

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PTO British  

abbreviation

1. please turn over

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Example Sentences

I’m paid 25 percent less than I was for my job at Meta, with five annual PTO days and zero paid holidays, and I’m overqualified for the work I do.

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026

Lindsay Lalonde, who lives in Canada, told Salon via email that wellness in the workplace for her would be “flexible working hours, more PTO, and recognition.”

From Salon • Feb. 13, 2024

Nearly half of all U.S. workers who have PTO do not take all of it in a year, according to a recent Pew survey.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 31, 2024

Some employers have even started mandating the use of PTO as many Americans remain resistant to taking “too much” time away.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 31, 2024

“How well do I know...Mrs. Greystone was in PTO with me for years,” Ms. Morales said.

From "The Strangers" by Margaret Peterson Haddix