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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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Other Word Forms

• jet-lagged adjective

Etymology

Origin of jet lag

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

“You really don’t have the impact of jet lag because you’re purely running on adrenaline,” she says.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

Critics also point to the disruption caused by changing the clocks, often comparing it to mild, nationwide jet lag.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

After 25 years of bouncing around the globe with Gorillaz, he’s still longing for a jet lag cure.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

That’s great for an extra hour of sleep each night and no jet lag after the trip, but it was a bit confusing to wake up every day with different times on all our devices.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 19, 2025

For the first couple of days, we were so zonked by jet lag it felt as if we were moving at half speed.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama