lethargy
Americannoun
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the quality or state of being drowsy and dull, listless and unenergetic, or indifferent and lazy; apathetic or sluggish inactivity.
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Pathology. an abnormal state or disorder characterized by overpowering drowsiness or sleep.
noun
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sluggishness, slowness, or dullness
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an abnormal lack of energy, esp as the result of a disease
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of lethargy
First recorded in 1325–75; from Late Latin lēthargia, from Greek lēthargía, equivalent to lḗtharg(os) “drowsy” + -ia -y 3 ( see Lethe, -algia); replacing Middle English litargie, from Medieval Latin litargīa, from Late Greek, Greek, as above
Explanation
Is your pet slug always this comatose, or is this display of lethargy unusual? The word lethargy describes inactivity or a lack of energy. Lethargy comes from the Greek lethargos, originally meaning “inactive through forgetfulness.” Somewhere along the way, the word lost the implication of “forgetfulness” and just ended up hanging around in bed all day. Still, lethargy doesn’t necessarily imply laziness; it can be brought about by illness and may also describe a lack of strength. Other lethargic nouns include torpor, sluggishness, and languor.
Vocabulary lists containing lethargy
The Giver
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The Pearl
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The Hunger Games
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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.
Lethargy caught up to both offenses — the schools were a combined 2-17 in the first half on third down — until Indiana found some rhythm.
From Washington Times • Oct. 30, 2021
Lethargy in the limbs, for instance, could be multiple sclerosis or lupus, devastating but different diseases with a lifetime of debilitating, progressing pain.
From Scientific American • Sep. 7, 2021
The Firmness with which Kelirieu pronounced these last Words, roused the King from his Lethargy.
From The Amours of Zeokinizul, King of the Kofirans Translated from the Arabic of the famous Traveller Krinelbol by Crébillon, Claude Prosper Jolyot de
They at last began to reflect upon this barbarous way of treating one another, and by this means awakened out of that Lethargy with which each of them had been seized for several Years.
From The Spectator, Volume 2. by Addison, Joseph
Lethargy and increase of weight are often noticed, and not a few, especially in congenitally neurotic cases, have an attack of insanity precipitated.
From The Fertility of the Unfit by Waddell, Rutherford
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.
