Explanation at your level:
Fatigue means you are very, very tired. Your body feels heavy. You need to sleep or rest for a long time. It is not just being a little sleepy. It is a big, strong feeling of needing a break.
When you work very hard for many hours, you feel fatigue. It is a state of being exhausted. You might feel fatigue after running a long race or studying for a very difficult test. It is a serious kind of tiredness.
Fatigue is a noun that describes extreme exhaustion. It is often used to talk about health. For example, 'I am suffering from fatigue.' It is more formal than saying 'I am tired.' People often experience fatigue after long flights or stressful weeks at work.
Fatigue refers to a state of depletion, both physical and mental. It is a common term in medical and professional settings. Unlike 'tiredness,' which is temporary, 'fatigue' suggests a deeper, more persistent condition. You might hear people discuss 'mental fatigue' after a long day of complex decision-making.
In advanced English, 'fatigue' is often used to describe systemic exhaustion in various contexts. Beyond the physical, we speak of 'compassion fatigue' or 'consumer fatigue,' where the subject is overwhelmed by an excess of stimuli. It carries a nuance of being 'worn down' rather than just 'needing sleep.' It is a precise term used to denote a loss of capacity for continued effort.
The term 'fatigue' carries significant weight in both literary and technical discourse. Etymologically, it denotes a breaking point, and in C2 usage, it often implies a state of structural or psychological failure. Whether discussing the 'fatigue of the material' in engineering or the 'existential fatigue' of a protagonist in a novel, the word suggests a profound, perhaps irreversible, depletion of resources. It is the hallmark of a state where the subject can no longer sustain the previous level of engagement or performance.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Fatigue means extreme tiredness.
- It is an uncountable noun.
- Pronounced 'fuh-TEEG'.
- Often used in medical/formal contexts.
Have you ever finished a long hike or a tough week of exams and felt like you couldn't lift a finger? That feeling is fatigue. It is more than just being a little sleepy; it is a deep, heavy sense of exhaustion that settles into your bones.
When we talk about fatigue, we are usually describing a state where your energy levels have completely bottomed out. It is commonly used in medical contexts, like when a doctor asks about 'chronic fatigue,' but it is also used in everyday life to describe the aftermath of intense effort. Think of it as your body's way of saying, 'I need a serious break!'
The word fatigue has a long journey through history. It comes to us from the French word fatiguer, which itself traces back to the Latin word fatigare, meaning 'to weary' or 'to tire out.'
Interestingly, the root of the word is linked to the Latin fatis (a split or opening) and agere (to do). It implies that the person is so worn out that they are essentially 'split' or broken by their labor. Over centuries, the word moved from describing physical labor in the fields to the more complex mental and medical states we describe today.
In English, fatigue is a versatile noun. You will often hear it paired with adjectives like 'extreme,' 'mental,' or 'chronic.' It is slightly more formal than the word 'tiredness,' so you are more likely to see it in a news article or a health report than in a casual text to a friend.
Common phrases include 'combat fatigue' or 'suffering from fatigue.' While you can say 'I am tired,' saying 'I am suffering from fatigue' sounds much more clinical and serious. Use it when you want to emphasize that the exhaustion is significant or persistent.
While 'fatigue' is a formal word, it appears in several powerful expressions. 1. Compassion fatigue: When you care so much about others that you eventually run out of emotional energy. 2. Decision fatigue: The exhaustion caused by making too many choices throughout the day. 3. Metal fatigue: A technical term for when metal weakens after repeated stress. 4. Battle fatigue: An older term for the exhaustion soldiers feel after combat. 5. Fatigue duty: A military term for manual labor tasks assigned to soldiers.
The word fatigue is typically an uncountable noun, meaning we don't usually say 'a fatigue' or 'fatigues' unless referring to military clothing. The pronunciation in both British and American English is /fəˈtiːɡ/, with the stress on the second syllable.
It rhymes with 'intrigue' and 'league.' Remember that the 'u' is silent, which is a common trap for learners! It is often followed by prepositions like 'from' (fatigue from work) or 'due to' (fatigue due to stress).
Fun Fact
It is related to the word 'fatuous' in some distant roots.
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'fuh-TEEG'
Sounds like 'fuh-TEEG'
Common Errors
- Pronouncing the 'u'
- Stressing the first syllable
- Adding an 's' at the end
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to use
Easy to pronounce
Clear sound
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Uncountable Nouns
Fatigue is uncountable.
Silent Letters
The 'u' in fatigue.
Noun Collocations
Suffer from + noun.
Examples by Level
I feel fatigue.
I feel very tired.
Uncountable noun.
He has fatigue.
He is exhausted.
Used with 'has'.
The dog has fatigue.
The dog is tired.
Simple subject.
No more fatigue.
No more tiredness.
Noun phrase.
Fatigue is bad.
Being exhausted is not good.
Subject of sentence.
Rest cures fatigue.
Sleeping helps.
Verb + object.
Stop the fatigue.
End the tiredness.
Imperative.
Fatigue hurts me.
I feel pain from tiredness.
Active verb.
The long walk caused me great fatigue.
She felt fatigue after the exam.
His fatigue was obvious to everyone.
You need rest to fight fatigue.
Fatigue makes it hard to focus.
The doctor checked for signs of fatigue.
I am suffering from fatigue today.
Avoid fatigue by taking breaks.
Chronic fatigue is a real medical condition.
The pilot was grounded due to pilot fatigue.
Mental fatigue is common during finals week.
She ignored her fatigue and kept working.
The team showed signs of fatigue in the second half.
Overcoming fatigue requires proper nutrition.
He collapsed from sheer fatigue.
Fatigue can be a symptom of many illnesses.
The constant noise led to sensory fatigue.
Many investors are experiencing market fatigue.
She suffered from compassion fatigue after years of nursing.
The marathon runner pushed through his fatigue.
Decision fatigue often leads to poor choices at the end of the day.
The report highlights the dangers of driver fatigue.
His voice showed signs of fatigue.
We must address the fatigue within the workforce.
The structural integrity was compromised by metal fatigue.
He spoke with a sense of existential fatigue.
The audience began to show signs of lecture fatigue.
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a debilitating illness.
The diplomat noted a sense of negotiation fatigue.
Her writing captures the fatigue of a generation.
The engine failed due to long-term metal fatigue.
Political fatigue is setting in among the voters.
The relentless pace of the project induced a state of profound fatigue.
One could sense the fatigue in the weary eyes of the refugees.
The material exhibited signs of microscopic fatigue under stress.
Her work is a testament to the fatigue of the human spirit.
The system is suffering from institutional fatigue.
He succumbed to the fatigue of a life lived in constant motion.
The sheer fatigue of the journey was written on his face.
There is a palpable sense of moral fatigue in the community.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"Compassion fatigue"
Emotional exhaustion from helping others.
Nurses often face compassion fatigue.
formal"Decision fatigue"
Tiredness from making too many choices.
I have decision fatigue about dinner.
casual"Metal fatigue"
Weakening of metal from stress.
The bridge collapsed from metal fatigue.
technical"Battle fatigue"
Exhaustion from combat stress.
The soldier suffered from battle fatigue.
historical"Fatigue duty"
Manual labor chores.
He was assigned to fatigue duty.
military"Weariness of spirit"
Deep emotional fatigue.
He felt a great weariness of spirit.
literaryEasily Confused
Both mean exhaustion.
Tiredness is casual.
I'm tired vs I have fatigue.
Similar spelling.
Fat is weight.
He is fat vs He has fatigue.
Plural form.
Clothes vs state.
He wore fatigues.
Similar meaning.
Lethargy is lack of interest.
He was in a state of lethargy.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + suffer from + fatigue
I suffer from fatigue.
Subject + show signs of + fatigue
He shows signs of fatigue.
Noun + caused by + fatigue
Errors caused by fatigue.
Overcome + fatigue
Try to overcome fatigue.
Combat + fatigue
We must combat fatigue.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
'Fatigues' refers to military clothes.
The 'u' is silent.
Fatigue is a noun.
They are unrelated words.
It is an uncountable noun.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a battery icon in your mind that turns red.
When Native Speakers Use It
In medical or professional reports.
Cultural Insight
Often associated with 'burnout' culture.
Grammar Shortcut
Always treat it as singular.
Say It Right
Think of the 'gue' as a 'g' sound.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't add an 's' for general tiredness.
Did You Know?
It comes from the Latin for 'split'.
Study Smart
Group it with health vocabulary.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Fatigue: F-A-T (like fat) + I (I) + GUE (go). I am too fat and tired to go!
Visual Association
A battery symbol that is completely empty.
Word Web
Challenge
Use the word 'fatigue' in a sentence about a long day.
Word Origin
French/Latin
Original meaning: To weary or tire out
Cultural Context
None
Used often in medical and military contexts.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Medical
- Chronic fatigue
- Symptoms of fatigue
- Diagnosed with fatigue
Workplace
- Decision fatigue
- Workplace fatigue
- Combating fatigue
Sports
- Muscle fatigue
- Signs of fatigue
- Overcome fatigue
Driving
- Driver fatigue
- Avoid fatigue
- Fatigue-related accidents
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever experienced extreme fatigue?"
"What do you do to combat fatigue?"
"Do you think modern life causes more fatigue?"
"How does mental fatigue feel to you?"
"Is it hard to tell the difference between fatigue and tiredness?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you felt deep fatigue.
What activities lead to your mental fatigue?
How do you recover from physical fatigue?
Write about a time you ignored your fatigue.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsFatigue is deeper and more persistent.
No, it is uncountable.
Fatigues (only for clothes).
Rarely, but usually a noun.
You don't! It is silent.
In formal or medical contexts.
Long-term, severe exhaustion.
No, it rhymes with 'league'.
Test Yourself
I feel a lot of ___ after running.
Fatigue means tiredness.
Which word is a synonym for fatigue?
Exhaustion is a synonym.
Fatigue is usually a countable noun.
It is uncountable.
Word
Meaning
Both are common collocations.
He is suffering from fatigue.
Score: /5
Summary
Fatigue is a deep, persistent exhaustion that is more serious than just being tired.
- Fatigue means extreme tiredness.
- It is an uncountable noun.
- Pronounced 'fuh-TEEG'.
- Often used in medical/formal contexts.
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a battery icon in your mind that turns red.
When Native Speakers Use It
In medical or professional reports.
Cultural Insight
Often associated with 'burnout' culture.
Grammar Shortcut
Always treat it as singular.
Example
Mental fatigue affects performance.
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