fatigue

noun fa·tigue \ fə-ˈtēg \

Updated on: 25 Apr 2018

Definition of fatigue

1 a : labor

b : manual or menial work (such as the cleaning up of acamp area) performed by military personnel

c fatigues plural : the uniform or work clothing worn on fatigue and in the field

2 a : weariness or exhaustion from labor, exertion, or stress

We were overcome by fatigue after the long hike.

b : the temporary loss of power to respond that is induced in a sensory receptor (see receptor a) or motor (see ²motor 1) end organ by continued stimulation

c : a state or attitude of indifference or apathy brought on by overexposure (as to a repeated series of similar events or appeals)

… a super PAC supporting Hillary Clinton launched within days of Barack Obama's 2013 inauguration. Voter fatigue is just one drawback to the long campaigns, though.
—Martin Wisckol

Most of the Romney voters they visited were fairly chipper, but there is an air of election fatigue in a state where most television commercial breaks are dominated by attack ads and the phone rings off the hook with campaign calls.
—Daniel Malloy and Katie Leslie

Waning media coverage of a humanitarian crisis is usually a precursor to "donor fatigue," in which assistance from other nations fades.
—Christian Science Monitor

— see also compassion fatigue

3 : the tendency of a material to break under repeated stress

metal fatigue

See fatigue defined for English-language learners

See fatigue defined for kids

Examples of fatigue in a Sentence

We were overcome by fatigue after the long journey.
The drug's side effects include headache and fatigue.
soldiers wearing combat boots and fatigues
The cracks in the engine were caused by metal fatigue.

Recent Examples of fatigue from the Web

Symptoms include: decreased urination, fatigue and losing the pink color in the cheeks and lower eyelids.

— katy moeller, idahostatesman, "Throw out all romaine lettuce, CDC says. Idaho ranks 2nd for people ill from E. coli | Idaho Statesman," 20 Apr. 2018
Barbara Bush was hospitalized 2017 due to fatigue and coughing.

— matthew watkins, star-telegram, "Ailing former first lady Barbara Bush halts treatment, is seeking 'comfort care' | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 15 Apr. 2018
At one point on the globe, a nation's leader in military fatigues, overseeing its largest display of naval power ever, and in waters that are at the heart of a regional territorial dispute.

— jamie tarabay, CNN, "China's Xi has a single-mindedness Trump can only dream of," 13 Apr. 2018
A few neighbors watched the investigation from within the crime scene, including a young man and woman in military fatigues perched on an apartment stairway.

— laura mcknight, NOLA.com, "Man shot in Algiers, New Orleans police say," 27 Mar. 2018
One of the mourners present was Ryan Radez, a United States Army specialist dressed in green fatigues.

— holly v. hays, Indianapolis Star, "Jacob Pickett funeral updates: A final resting place," 9 Mar. 2018
Isaac plays a military man and husband to Natalie Portman, and spends most of the movie shirtless and in fatigues, exploring the limits of his own sanity.

— zach baron, GQ, "Oscar Isaac Talks Annihilation, Star Wars, and the Most Turbulent Year of His Life," 20 Feb. 2018
Soldiers in fatigues were manning entry points to skiing and snowboarding venues Tuesday.

— anna fifield, chicagotribune.com, "Norovirus outbreak at Olympic venues leads to staff quarantine," 7 Feb. 2018
Rifle-toting deputies in Army fatigues and helmets stand watch over Nicollet Mall, which has been swamped with visitors to the Super Bowl Live event.

— Philly.com, "With Super Bowl celebrations in full swing, downtown Minneapolis takes on military feel," 31 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fatigue.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Why are uniforms called fatigues?

Fatigue is a basic part of today’s vocabulary, but, surprisingly, only dates back to the mid-17th century in English. It’s not used even a single time by Shakespeare or in the King James Bible. It came to English from French and ultimately derives from the Latin verb fatigare, meaning “to tire out” or “to exhaust.” An earlier direct borrowing into English from Latin, fatigate, was used in the 1500s before disappearing (it’s now labeled obsolete in our dictionaries). Fatigue entered English first as a noun, then the verb (“the work fatigues me”) and adjective (“a fatigue detail”) came along. The noun was used to mean both “the state of being tired” and “labor,” “effort,” or “trouble”—a sense that seems old-fashioned today. Early uses of fatigue meaning “effort” or “labor” often were in military contexts:

the fatigue of our long march

the fatigues of war

the fatigues of a long journey

they no longer have fatigue without pay

toil and fatigue

These senses led to two military-specific uses of fatigue. First, it came to mean “manual or menial work performed by military personnel,” and then, consequently, “the uniform or work clothing worn on fatigue detail and in the field.” This is how fatigues came to mean “uniform” in the military. When your job seems to be all work and no play, even your clothes are tired.

Origin and Etymology of fatigue

French, from Middle French, from fatiguer to fatigue, from Latin fatigare; akin to Latin affatim sufficiently

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1669

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

fatigue Synonyms

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

fatigue

verb

Definition of fatigue

fatigued; fatiguing

transitive verb

1 : to weary with labor or exertion

2 : to induce a condition of fatigue in

intransitive verb

: to suffer fatigue

See fatigue defined for English-language learners

Examples of fatigue in a Sentence

the rescue workers pressed on, though their efforts to reach the miners had almost completely fatigued them

Recent Examples of fatigue from the Web

Yu Darvish can make a favorable impression on the Cubs’ fatigued bullpen Saturday night with a lengthy performance against the i Marlins at Marlins Park.

— mark gonzales, chicagotribune.com, "Cubs need Yu Darvish to spare taxed bullpen," 31 Mar. 2018
For a fan base fatigued by expected turnover at Xavier's head coaching position, all eyes could soon turn directly to Xavier University Athletic Director Greg Christopher.

— patrick brennan, Cincinnati.com, "Who could be next in line to lead Xavier basketball if Chris Mack leaves for Louisville?," 27 Mar. 2018
The surge in bill sales already taking place this year has fatigued investors and sent rates higher.

— andrew mayeda, Bloomberg.com, "China Signals It Could Ease Treasury Purchases to Counter Trump," 23 Mar. 2018
Other than being noticeably fatigued and turnover-prone, Joel Embiid had an OK game while completing his first back-to-back situation.

— keith pompey, Philly.com, "Sixers-Pacers observations, 'best' and 'worst' awards: Lance Stephenson, Ben Simmons, another second-half stinker," 4 Feb. 2018
Research suggests this kind of dynamic muscle activation is much more challenging and fatiguing than simpler, repetitive movements.

— markham heid, Time, "Why Rock Climbing May Be the Ultimate Full-Body Workout," 15 Feb. 2018
The all-star center was noticeably fatigued in the fourth quarter before bagging his knee while slipping on the floor in the fourth quarter.

— keith pompey, Philly.com, "Sixers-Clippers observations, 'Best' and 'Worst' awards: Joel Embiid, Austin Rivers and Los Angeles' late meltdown," 11 Feb. 2018
Rápalo Piñeda and the other migrants had been walking day and night, and they were fatigued.

— alice driver, Longreads, "The Mutilated and the Disappeared," 31 Jan. 2018
Anybody who has ever played with me understands Marcell loves the guys that bleed and get fatigued next to him.

— mark inabinett, AL.com, "Marcell Dareus faces New England Patriots again with Super Bowl on the line," 17 Jan. 2018

Origin and Etymology of fatigue

see ¹fatigue

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1693

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

fatigue Synonyms

Synonyms

break, burn out, bust, do in, do up, drain, exhaust, frazzle, harass, kill, knock out, outwear, tire, tucker (out), wash out, wear, wear out, weary;

Near Antonyms

activate, energize, invigorate, rejuvenate, strengthen, vitalize;

relax, rest, unwind;

Phrases

wear to a frazzle;

Synonym Discussion of fatigue

tire, weary, fatigue, exhaust, jade mean to make or become unable or unwilling to continue. tire implies a draining of one's strength or patience.

- the long ride tired us out

weary stresses tiring until one is unable to endure more of the same thing.

- wearied of the constant arguing

fatigue suggests great lassitude from excessive strain or undue effort.

- fatigued by the day's chores

exhaust implies complete draining of strength by hard exertion.

- shoveling snow exhausted him

jade suggests the loss of all freshness and eagerness.

- appetites jaded by overindulgence

fatigue

adjective

Definition of fatigue

1 : consisting of, done, or used in fatigue

fatigue detail

2 : belonging to fatigues

a fatigue cap

Origin and Etymology of fatigue

see ¹fatigue

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1774

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

FATIGUE Defined for English Language Learners

fatigue

noun

Definition of fatigue for English Language Learners

: the state of being very tired : extreme weariness
fatigues : the uniform that soldiers wear when they are doing physical work
: the tendency of a material (such as metal) to break after being bent or moved many times