Meaning & use
daylight or day light
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
the natural light from the sun during the day.
Grammar: Uncountable; no plural. Use 'daylight' without 'a' or 'the' when talking generally.
Patterns
- in daylight
- by daylight
- daylight hours
The room is bright with daylight in the morning.
We finished the walk before daylight faded.
The colors look different in daylight.
noununcountable
the time of day when it is light, especially the period between sunrise and sunset.
Grammar: Often used in phrases like 'during daylight' or 'daylight hours'.
Patterns
- during daylight
- daylight hours
- before daylight
Most birds are active during daylight.
The shop is open only in daylight hours.
They traveled by daylight to avoid danger.
Common combinations
- in broad daylight
- The theft happened in broad daylight.
- daylight hours
- The park is open during daylight hours.
- natural daylight
- The studio uses natural daylight for photography.
- daylight saving time
- Many countries change to daylight saving time in spring.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sunlight
- Direct light from the sun; 'daylight' can be softer and includes indirect light.
- daytime
- Refers to the period, not the light itself; 'daylight' focuses on the light.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: daylight or day light or day light?
daylight or day light vs day light
A common misspelling; the correct form is one word: 'daylight'.
Practice
Which spelling is correct?
Choose one answer.
The standard spelling is 'daylight' (one word). 'Day light' is two separate words and is not standard; 'day-light' and 'daylite' are incorrect.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “daylight or day light”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.