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.
For children, the displacement of physical activity by sedentary screen time has significant implications for children’s well-being. Michelle Stansbury, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025 A little too fresh to offer much perspective except lots of on-screen deepfake screen time and lots of fake CNN cross-branding of apocalyptic footage of fire and death from a manageable distance. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 23 May 2025 These include the need for practical life skills, preparation for a fast-changing future, the challenge of managing screen time, the importance of affordability, and the search for learning experiences that build direction and self-esteem. Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 22 May 2025 Students at that school have adapted to the phone-free environment – though some still sneak devices into bathrooms trying to get screen time, teachers say. Nate Iglehart, Christian Science Monitor, 21 May 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

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Cite this Entry

“Screen time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/screen%20time. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.

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