Meaning
Time is a valuable resource that should not be wasted, since it is as precious — and as limited — as money.
It’s most often invoked in business or productivity contexts to justify efficiency or discourage delay.
Origin
The phrase is closely associated with Benjamin Franklin, who wrote “Remember that time is money” in his 1748 essay “Advice to a Young Tradesman, Written by an Old One,” a short guide on financial diligence addressed to aspiring merchants. While Franklin is usually credited with popularizing the exact wording in English, the underlying comparison between time and money as comparably scarce resources appears earlier and independently in other cultures’ proverbs and business writing, suggesting Franklin crystallized and popularized an already-circulating idea rather than inventing an entirely new one.
Examples
Stop wasting time on unnecessary meetings — time is money.
In this industry, time is money, so we can’t afford delays.
He hates waiting in line because, to him, time is money.
A: Can’t we push the deadline back? B: No, time is money.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'Time is money' mean?
Time is a valuable resource that should not be wasted, since it is as precious — and as limited — as money.
It’s most often invoked in business or productivity contexts to justify efficiency or discourage delay.