screen time

noun

1
: the amount of time someone or something appears on screen in a movie or television show
… the widespread practice of product placement (in which companies buy screen time for their brands) …Celia Wren
Peck's role is only a cameo—23 minutes of screen time scattered through six and a half hours of edited film …John Skow
2
: time spent watching television, playing a video game, or using an electronic device with a screen (such as a smartphone or tablet)
Concerns about children spending too much time on digital devices—'screen time'—and becoming overdependent on these devices are very real for many teachers and parents.Nicky Hockly
If yours is like most American families with kids under age 5, your child probably watches between three and four hours of television a day. That's a lot of screen timeDebra Kent

Examples of screen time in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Hours of screen time per day for kids 0-8 remained stable, but children are watching less live television and cable and more time short videos on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. Megan Morrone, Axios, 1 Mar. 2025 There was more screen time with J on Animal Kingdom, but with some of Michael’s past experiences and some of the depth that Steven had written into the character, there was more underlying and more to play, long-term. Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Feb. 2025 The streamer also confirmed that the two actors will share screen time with Ackles. Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2025 Minimizing daily screen time and spending more time outside can help protect eye health. Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for screen time

Word History

First Known Use

1921, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of screen time was in 1921

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Screen time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/screen%20time. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!