day shift

American  

[dey shift] / ˈdeɪ ˌʃɪft /

noun

1. the workforce, as of a factory, scheduled to work during the daytime.

2. the scheduled period of labor for this workforce.

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day shift British  

noun

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

2. the period worked

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Etymology

Origin of day shift

First recorded in 1870–75

Compare meaning

How does day-shift compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• day shift vs. night shift

Example Sentences

Two victims - a mother who saved her baby in her dying moments and a security guard who was fatally stabbed on his first day shift - will receive posthumous awards.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

“Let’s say you’re working a midnight shift and you’re in San Diego, but you’re covering for Sacramento, right? I could see that shift saying, ‘We’re going to let the day shift handle it,’” Tardy said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 16, 2025

Since the drama stars Noah Wyle as Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch, the attending physician on the day shift, associating it with NBC’s “ER” is understandable.

From Salon • Jun. 23, 2025

Published in the Journal of Proteome Research, the study involved a controlled laboratory experiment with volunteers who were put on simulated night or day shift schedules for three days.

From Science Daily • May 9, 2024

Mom emerged, along with the others finishing the day shift.

From "X: A Novel" by Ilyasah Shabazz