zerohour

Zerohour is a term used to denote the moment at which something is scheduled to begin or is expected to occur, often the critical turning point in a plan or operation. The expression originates from military jargon, where "zero hour" marks the planned start of an attack or other decisive action.

In military and emergency planning, zero hour functions as the reference point for timing, coordination, and execution. Plans, drills, and communications are structured around this moment, with triggers, contingencies, and support activities synchronized to reach the objective at zero hour. The concept has broad usage in project management and crisis response to indicate the moment of execution.

In labor law, the term appears in the phrase zero-hour contract. A zero-hour contract is a type of employment agreement where the employer is not obliged to provide a minimum number of hours, and the worker is on call or available for work as needed. Such arrangements are controversial, with debates focusing on income stability for workers versus organizational flexibility for employers.

In popular culture, zerohour has been used as a title or branding element. The most widely known example is Command & Conquer: Generals – Zero Hour, an expansion released for the real-time strategy game in the early 2000s that added new factions, units, and missions. The term also appears in various media contexts to evoke urgency, crisis, or a dramatic turning point.

Overall, zerohour remains a versatile label for the moment a plan, operation, or event is set into motion, as well as a cultural shorthand for critical turning points and on-call or contingent arrangements.