fatigues
B2Informal (military context), Standard (general meaning).
Definition
Meaning
Military clothing made of durable, often camouflaged fabric, worn for work duties or in combat situations.
A state of extreme tiredness or exhaustion (verb/adjective senses, plural noun form is used for clothing).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a plural noun ('fatigues'), it refers specifically to the uniform. The singular 'fatigue' refers to tiredness or material science (weakening of metal). The plural form for clothing is never used with a singular article ('a fatigues' is incorrect).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK: Less common in everyday speech, primarily military. US: More widely recognized for the military uniform, common in pop culture.
Connotations
Both: Associated with soldiers, manual labour, utility. No significant difference in connotation.
Frequency
Higher frequency in US English due to larger military presence in media and general discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + wear + fatigues[Subject] + be dressed in + fatigues[Subject] + change into + fatiguesVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to the clothing sense. Related: 'battle fatigue' (psychological condition).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually unused.
Academic
Used in military history, sociology, or cultural studies contexts.
Everyday
Used when referring to military attire casually. 'He showed up in old army fatigues.'
Technical
Specific in military jargon. In engineering: 'metal fatigue' (singular).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The long march fatigued the new recruits.
- Repetitive tasks can fatigue the mind.
American English
- The intense workout fatigued his muscles.
- Constant noise fatigues airport workers.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable (no standard adverbial form).
American English
- Not applicable (no standard adverbial form).
adjective
British English
- The fatigue details were sent to the quartermaster.
- He reported for fatigue duty.
American English
- She was suffering from fatigue syndrome.
- The metal showed signs of fatigue stress.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The soldiers wear green fatigues.
- My brother has army fatigues.
- He changed into his fatigues before the exercise.
- You can buy old military fatigues in some shops.
- Despite wearing standard-issue fatigues, the unit was easily identified.
- The photograph showed troops in dusty fatigues resting by the road.
- The cultural appropriation of military fatigues in fashion has been a topic of debate.
- His faded fatigues bore the insignia of a regiment long since disbanded.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
"Fatigues" are what you wear when you're doing fatiguing (tiring) work in the field.
Conceptual Metaphor
CLOTHING FOR FUNCTION IS ARMOUR / CLOTHING FOR COMFORT IS A BURDEN (utilitarian, not comfortable).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not directly translate as 'усталость' (fatigue=tiredness) when referring to clothing. The correct translation for the clothing is 'камуфляжная форма', 'военная форма'.
- The plural '-s' is essential for the clothing meaning. 'Fatigue' (singular) does not mean the uniform.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a singular countable noun: 'He wore a fatigue.' (Incorrect).
- Confusing the plural noun (clothing) with the uncountable noun (tiredness): 'His fatigues was overwhelming.' (Incorrect mixing).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is the word 'fatigues' used correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Fatigues' is a plural noun treated as a single item (like 'trousers' or 'glasses'). You say 'a pair of fatigues' or simply 'fatigues'.
'Camouflage' (or 'camo') refers specifically to the patterned design for concealment. 'Fatigues' are the entire uniform garment, which may or may not be camouflaged (e.g., olive drab fatigues).
It is standard but context-specific. It is formal within military discourse but informal in general conversation. In writing, 'combat uniform' is often more formal.