Noon vs. Afternoon

Main Difference

The main difference between Noon and Afternoon is that the Noon is a 12 o’clock in the daytime and Afternoon is a time of the day between noon and evening.

• Noon

  Noon (or noon time) is 12 o’clock in the daytime, as opposed to midnight. It is written as 12 p.m. (for post meridian) or 12 pm. It is synonymous of midday, which is of different concept and points to the middle of the day-light period. Noon and midday may not be on the same time.

  Solar noon is the time when the Sun appears to contact the local celestial meridian. This is when the Sun apparently reaches its highest point in the sky, at 12 noon apparent solar time and can be observed using a sundial. The local or clock time of solar noon depends on the longitude and date.

• Afternoon

  Afternoon is the time of day from noon or lunchtime until evening. There is no exact definition of the time when afternoon ends and evening starts. (This is equally true for “evening” and “night”.) However afternoon is often taken to start directly after noon (12:00pm). Afternoon ends and evening starts at roughly 5pm or 6pm or maybe just before sunset. Afternoon is the time when the Sun is descending from its zenith in the sky to somewhat before its terminus in the westerly horizon. In human life, it occupies roughly the latter half of the standard working and school day. In literal terms, it refers to a time specifically after noon.

• Afternoon (noun)

  the time from noon or lunchtime to evening

  “I’ll be back at three in the afternoon”

  “I telephoned this afternoon”

  “she worked on Tuesday afternoons”

• Afternoon (adverb)

  in the afternoon; every afternoon.

• Afternoon (interjection)

  short for good afternoon