Definition
A person who habitually stays awake late into the night and is most productive or alert during evening and nighttime hours. The opposite of an early riser or 'morning person.'
Example Usage
As a night owl, she does her best work after midnight and dreads early morning meetings.
Origin
From the nocturnal behavior of owls; the term has been used metaphorically since at least the 19th century.
Fun Fact
Night owls may have a genetic predisposition toward later sleep-wake cycles, a phenomenon called chronotype variation.
Source: Definition backfill (hailey)
Related Terms
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See “Night Owl” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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