timekeeper

American  

[tahym-kee-per] / ˈtaɪmˌki pər /

noun

1. a person or thing that keeps time. times.

2. an official appointed to time, times, regulate, and record the duration of a sports contest or its component parts, as to give the official time times of a race, assure that a round of boxing is ended exactly on time, times, or announce to football, basketball, hockey, etc., teams the amount of time times left to play.

3. a timepiece.

   This watch is a good timekeeper.

4. a person employed to keep account of the hours of work done by others.

5. a person who beats time times in music.

---

timekeeper British  

/ ˈtaɪmˌkiːpə /

noun

1. a person or thing that keeps or records time

2. an employee who maintains a record of the hours worked by the other employees

3. a device for indicating time; timepiece

4. an employee with respect to his or her record of punctuality

   a good timekeeper

---

Other Word Forms

• timekeeping noun

Etymology

Origin of timekeeper

First recorded in 1680–90; time + keeper

Example Sentences

He had dozens of jobs, including stockroom clerk, timekeeper, accountant and city inspector, as well as myriad positions in newspaper journalism.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

Later matches were overseen by two umpires, one provided by each team with an on-field referee — often the game’s timekeeper — breaking the tie in particularly sticky situations.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 14, 2025

Our internal biological timekeeper, or circadian clock, regulates many aspects of our physiology and behavior.

From Salon • Aug. 3, 2023

Borom was our guide, our timekeeper for breaks and our head-counter.

From Seattle Times • May 20, 2023

Our self-appointed timekeeper, he nudged JoJo with his foot.

From "Adrift" by Paul Griffin

Related Words

• timer