jet lag

American  

Or jetlag

noun

1. a temporary disruption of the body's normal biological rhythms after high-speed air travel through several time zones.

---

jet lag British  

noun

1. a general feeling of fatigue and disorientation often experienced by travellers by jet aircraft who cross several time zones in relatively few hours

---

jet lag Scientific  

1. A temporary disruption of normal circadian rhythm caused by high-speed travel across several time zones typically in a jet aircraft, resulting in fatigue, disorientation, and disturbed sleep patterns.

---

jet lag Cultural  

1. A temporary disruption of the body's biological clock experienced by persons who travel across several time zones by airplane. The effects of jet lag, which may include fatigue and irritability, generally disappear after a few days as the body's internal rhythms readjust themselves to the new time frame.

---

Other Word Forms

• jet-lagged
  adjective

---

Etymology

Origin of jet lag

First recorded in 1965–70

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

jet lag

Emily St. John Mandel touched down in Los Angeles just hours before she arrived at Botanica in Silver Lake, shirt crisp, eyes bright, not a hint of jet lag in sight.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026

To be sure, Xi had just completed a roughly 14-hour flight from Beijing, and jet lag alone could account for some of the schedule adjustments, particularly on the night of his arrival.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026

But considering this is the first meaningful NFL game in Australia, it could come down to something much more trivial: how these teams handle jet lag.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

"For some of us, get over jet lag quickly and get used to it, but I've been playing good golf all year so I'm hoping I can do it again."

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

What I felt was one part jet lag, maybe, but two parts something more profound and elating.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---