fatigue

[ fuh-teeg ]

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. fatigues. Military. 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)

, fa·tigued, fa·ti·guing.

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)

, fa·tigued, fa·ti·guing.

1. to become tired or exhausted.
2. Civil Engineering. (of a material) to undergo fatigue.

fatigue

/ 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

Derived Forms

• faˈtigueless, adjective
• fatigable, adjective

Other Words From

• fa·tigue·less adjective
• fa·ti·guing·ly adverb
• an·ti·fa·tigue adjective
• un·fa·ti·guing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fatigue¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of fatigue¹

C17: from French, from fatiguer to tire, from Latin fatīgāre

Example Sentences

Sangeeta, who goes by one name, is overwhelmed every day as she juggles work, household chores and childcare while enduring severe hot flashes, fatigue, insomnia, backache and abdominal pain.

From BBC

Muscles typically fatigue from the exercise in just one to two minutes.

From Los Angeles Times

“You may have to drop the weight because your muscles will fatigue quicker — they’re under tension for a longer period. Your form also needs to be especially accurate.”

From Los Angeles Times

They argue that the extensive list of chemicals has led to nearly universal warnings, which they say has undermined the law’s original intent and given consumers warning fatigue.

From Los Angeles Times

“Can’t give into fatigue. You can’t give into the schedule. Just take it one game at a time.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• disable
• exhaust
• jade
• weaken