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.
Yet women find themselves doing by far the majority of child care and housework—a hidden reason that women have higher rates of burnout than men.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 8, 2026
Then you can truly enjoy your actual days off and better avoid burnout, something 53% of workers report experiencing, according to a 2026 survey by the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 30, 2026
Brivik agreed, citing the “mass exodus” of healthcare workers post-pandemic and noting the need to combat burnout and stigma surrounding mental health services.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026
Nurses, who asked to remain anonymous, described burnout and impossible conditions.
From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026
Soon there will be signs of emotional instability and forgetfulness, the first symptoms of the burnout.
From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes
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.
