fatigue

The word “fatigue” means extreme tiredness, whether physical or mental, from exertion or lack of rest. In plain terms, a deep sense of tiredness, or (in engineering) the gradual weakening of a material under repeated stress.

“Fatigue” is pronounced fuh-TEEG (/fəˈtiːɡ/ in IPA).

Here is “fatigue” used in a sentence: “By the end of the shift, fatigue had set in and her hands were shaking.”

Depending on how it is used, “fatigue” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “fatigue” comes from Latin. From French fatiguer, from Latin fatigare, "to tire out, weary".

“Fatigue” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

“Fatigue” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: extreme tiredness, whether physical or mental, from exertion or lack of rest.

Fatigue typically refers to extreme tiredness, whether physical or mental, resulting from significant exertion or lack of rest, and often implies a more persistent or severe state. Ordinary tiredness can be milder and resolve quickly with a short rest, while fatigue can linger and affect daily functioning.

Metal fatigue is an engineering term for the weakening of a material caused by repeated stress over time, which can eventually lead to cracking or failure even under loads well below the material's normal strength limit. This technical sense extends the idea of gradual weakening from exertion to physical materials rather than people.

Compassion fatigue describes a state of extreme mental and emotional tiredness that results from prolonged exposure to others' suffering, often affecting caregivers, healthcare workers, or those in helping professions. It reflects the mental sense of fatigue as tiredness from sustained emotional exertion.