Part-Time Job: Definition, Examples, and Key Differences

Meaning 1：Non-full-time employment (Part-Time Job)

Part-Time Job 🔊

/pɑːrt taɪm dʒoʊb/

A job that you do for only some hours each day or week, not as your main full-time work.

Student working part-time job at a cafe with textbooks nearby

Non-full-time employment 🔊

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/nɑːn fʊl taɪm ɪmˈplɔɪmənt/

A part-time job is a form of employment that carries fewer hours per week than a full-time job, offering flexibility for other pursuits like study or family.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Part (Latin 'pars' = portion) + Time (Old English 'tīma') + Job (origin obscure, meaning piece of work).

💡 Mnemonic

Picture a clock with hands moving only half the day—your part-time job hours.

📖 Example

My part-time job at the local garden center lets me enjoy nature while earning extra cash for my hobbies. 🔊 My part-time job at the local garden center lets me enjoy nature while earning extra cash for my hobbies.

🔗 Collocations

have a part-time job – To be employed in a non-full-time position.

part-time job market – The segment of the labor market offering part-time positions.

part-time job opportunity – A chance to work in a non-full-time role.

🔄 Synonyms

side job (n.) – A secondary job taken in addition to one's main employment.

side hustle (n.) – Informal term for a part-time job or gig done for extra income.

moonlighting (n.) – Working a second job, often at night or in addition to a regular job.

🚫 Antonyms

full-time job (n.) – A job requiring standard full weekly hours, typically 35-40 hours or more.

permanent job (n.) – A stable, ongoing employment without a fixed end date.

career position (n.) – A job that is part of one's long-term professional development.

🌱 Derivatives

part-timer (n.) – A person who works part-time.

part-time (adj./adv.) – Occupying less than full time (adjective) / for less than full time (adverb).

📖 Cultural Story

The term 'part-time' emerged during the Industrial Revolution as factories needed flexible labor; it became common in the 20th century for students and second-income earners.