burnout
Americannoun
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a fire that is totally destructive of something.
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Also burn-out fatigue, frustration, or apathy resulting from prolonged stress, overwork, or intense activity.
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Rocketry.
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the termination of effective combustion in a rocket engine, due to exhaustion of propellant.
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the end of the powered portion of a rocket's flight.
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Electricity. the breakdown of a lamp, motor, or other electrical device due to the heat created by the current flowing through it.
Etymology
Origin of burnout
First recorded in 1900–05; noun use of verb phrase burn out
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Occupational burnout is a health condition that stems from persistent and prolonged periods of stress that can have significant knock-on health effects.
From BBC • May 22, 2026
The Seafarers' Charity cites hypervigilance, burnout, fatigue, loneliness, depression and anxiety as some of the mental strains facing the 20,000 seafarers stranded by Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz since February 28.
From Barron's • May 9, 2026
In an era marked by burnout, sedentary lifestyles and rising mental-health struggles, progression offers a practical compass.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026
When delays start piling up and patients become upset, employee burnout and even errors may be more likely to happen.
From MarketWatch • May 1, 2026
By the time his two-year-old season drew to a close, he was showing signs of burnout.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
