idle time

noun

A period of time in which an employee or a machine is ready and available, but is not carrying out any productive work.

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Meanings

nounidle time (countable and uncountable, plural idle times)

plural idle times

  1. countableuncountablehuman resourcesbusinessA period of time in which an employee or a machine is ready and available, but is not carrying out any productive work.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
free timeunproductive time
Cite this entry
APA

idle time. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/idle%20time

MLA

“idle time.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/idle%20time. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “idle time,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/idle%20time.

Source: idle time on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.