nite

Nite is a nonstandard spelling of the English word night used in informal writing, signage, and branding. It denotes the period of darkness or the hours after sunset and is often seen in casual contexts such as goodnite or nite life.

The form nite derives from the same root as night. The standard spelling is night in formal writing, while nite reflects a phonetic simplification and a trend toward simplified orthography. In historical terms, night comes from Old English niht, related to other Germanic languages.

In modern usage, nite appears in popular culture as a stylistic variant in names, titles, and marketing to suggest informality, urban vibe, or nightlife themes. It is common in informal phrases that refer to the evening or late hours, and may appear in compound terms like nightlife or overnight when used in nonstandard spellings.

Nite is a homophone of knight, but the meanings are unrelated; context will indicate whether the intended word is night, knight, or a stylized form. For standard writing, the conventional spelling night is preferred unless the nonstandard form is part of a specific brand, title, or artistic choice. See also night and knight for related terms and distinctions.