fatigue

American  

[fuh-teeg] / fəˈtig /

noun

1. weariness from bodily or mental exertion.

2. a cause of weariness; slow ordeal; exertion.

   the fatigue of driving for many hours.

3. Physiology. temporary diminution of the irritability or functioning of organs, tissues, or cells after excessive exertion or stimulation.

4. Civil Engineering. the weakening or breakdown of material subjected to stress, especially a repeated series of stresses.

5. Also called fatigue duty.  Military.

   1. labor of a generally nonmilitary kind done by soldiers, such as cleaning up an area, digging drainage ditches, or raking leaves.

   2. the state of being engaged in such labor.

      on fatigue.

6. Military. fatigues. fatigues.

---

adjective

1. of or relating to fatigues or any clothing made to resemble them.

   The guerrilla band wore fatigue pants and field jackets.

   She brought fatigue shorts to wear on the hike.

verb (used with object)

fatigued, fatiguing

1. to weary with bodily or mental exertion; exhaust the strength of.

   Endless chatter fatigues me.

   Synonyms:

   enervate, debilitate, tire

2. Civil Engineering. to subject (a material) to fatigue.

verb (used without object)

fatigued, fatiguing

1. to become tired or exhausted.

2. Civil Engineering. (of a material) to undergo fatigue.

fatigue British  

/ ˈfætɪɡəbəl, fəˈtiːɡ /

noun

1. physical or mental exhaustion due to exertion

2. a tiring activity or effort

3. physiol the temporary inability of an organ or part to respond to a stimulus because of overactivity

4. the progressive cracking of a material subjected to alternating stresses, esp vibrations

5. the temporary inability to respond to a situation or perform a function, because of overexposure or overactivity

   compassion fatigue

6. 1. any of the mainly domestic duties performed by military personnel, esp as a punishment

   2. ( as modifier )

      fatigue duties

7. (plural) special clothing worn by military personnel to carry out such duties

---

verb

1. to make or become weary or exhausted

2. to crack or break (a material or part) by inducing fluctuating stresses in it, or (of a metal or part) to become weakened or fail as a result of fluctuating stresses

Other Word Forms

• antifatigue adjective
• fatigable adjective
• fatigueless adjective
• fatiguingly adverb
• unfatiguing adjective

Etymology

Origin of fatigue

First recorded in 1685–95; from French verb fatiguer, from Latin fatīgāre “to tire”; noun derived from the verb

Example Sentences

Far more people work very early morning shifts than overnight schedules, yet many struggle with severe fatigue linked to shift work disorder.

From Science Daily • Apr. 1, 2026

And, yes, the fatigue can be real and travelers should certainly consider their bodies’ limits.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

It would not stop them from travelling in a matchday squad or ease mental fatigue regardless of whether they play.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

Investors might be suffering from a case of artificial-intelligence fatigue, causing them to look beyond hot technology stocks for returns.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026

“One more;—they would not fatigue Miss Fairfax on any account, and would only ask for one more.”

From "Emma" by Jane Austen

Related Words

• disable
• exhaust
• jade
• weaken