: a unit of one hour's work by one person that is used especially as a basis for cost accounting and wages

Examples of man-hour in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The 39 members of the Landmark Center Volunteer Association donated the equivalent of almost $90,000 in man-hours last year toward tours, an information desk and other program support. Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 8 June 2025 After devoting countless man-hours to obfuscating in courtrooms and legal briefs, the administration has finally availed itself of this obvious option. The Editors, National Review, 7 June 2025 Today, the rate is as little as a single man-hour assuming multiple steel mills are working in tandem. Rob Wile, NBC news, 4 June 2025 For example, upgrading Java versions—a task that previously took six weeks—was reduced to just six hours, saving a significant number of man-hours. Shilpa Shastri, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025 Involuntary deportation soaks up expensive man-hours of ICE agents or other law enforcement. The Editors, National Review, 7 May 2025 This is enough man-hours to build four Nimitz-class U.S. Navy aircraft carriers. Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 5 May 2025 According to the report, the Department of Education’s paperwork required millions of man-hours per year to complete. Lindsey M. Burke, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2025 The agreement, which would see Antioch pay up to $200 per man-hour to the assisting agency, also covers vehicle maintenance and fuel costs during the operations. Hema Sivanandam, The Mercury News, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of man-hour was in 1912

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Cite this Entry

“Man-hour.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/man-hour. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

man-hour

noun
ˈman-ˈau̇(-ə)r
: a unit of one hour's work by one worker used especially as a basis for wages and in accounting
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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