A traditional eight hour day shift.

In some companies, the 9-5 is really 8:30-5 or 9-5:30. It's an extra half hour because of an unpaid 30 minute lunch break. In companies where you're paid by the hour, it's so you don't lose out on 30 minutes of pay. In ones where you're paid by the year, it's pretty much squeazing the extra half hour out of you in order to make up for the 30 minute lunch.

It generally refers to working Monday through Friday but in modern times where services are expected to be availalble durring non business hours, evening and weekend shifts are becomming an increasingly required demand of employees.
I used to work the traditional Mon-Fri 9-5 day shift but they've got me working weekends in the evenings now.
by anonymous October 27, 2004
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In street lingo, or perhaps in slang version, 9-5 is an adjective that references having/living an average life workin' a typical hard-labor, low-wager job. Obviously this is conclusive of the general 9-5 definition of having a job that's essentially that 8-hour, 5 times a week shift. But back on street talk, it's being stuck with a dead end job that brings in enough money afford the minimal bills putting whatever food onthe table that comes by.
"C'mon Chris this new job at a super Wal-Mart will be like free money."
"Hell no, first cashier at Wal-Mart, next supervisor on a longer term basis; I'll be damned if end up livin' a 9-5 worth nothin life. I'm gunna make it even if I gotta travel that high road on my own."
by cboyweridin February 23, 2012
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a typical job that includes waking up in the morning, going to work, and coming home at night
"He never felt right holding down a 9-5 it made the ends meet but it never made him feel alive"
by Alley May 11, 2004
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1. the typical job

2. the hours of a typical job
He works at your basic 9-5.
by The Return of Light Joker December 26, 2007
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Mythical hours that hardly anybody works anymore. Some might still work 8 hours, but they're mostly not 9-5.
Do YOU work 9-5? Do ya punk?
by Adrian May 1, 2007
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The hours sheep work in their shitty desk jobs. This is unfortunately the fate that Mauro Bomba will suffer after high school. 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
I don’t wanna grow up and work a shitty 9-5 job I don’t like
by Tyler “Ninja” Blevins September 25, 2019
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Man, I was on the 9-5 last night with your mom.
by Rodneytapeface February 25, 2018
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