# lethargy

/ˈɫɛθɝdʒi/ (US) · /lˈɛθədʒˌi/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lethargy
Updated: 2026-10-12

## Definition

a feeling of having no energy and no interest in doing anything. You might feel this way when you are sick or very tired.

For teachers: a state of tiredness, weariness, or lack of energy. Often used in medical contexts to describe pathological drowsiness or in general contexts to describe a lack of enthusiasm.

## Examples

- The hot weather caused a sense of lethargy in the office.
- After recovering from the flu, he struggled with a lingering lethargy that made it difficult to return to his gym routine.
- The nation's economic lethargy was blamed on a combination of high interest rates and a general lack of consumer confidence following the crisis.

## Usage notes

- Often follows the verbs 'feel' or 'experience', or is used with the preposition 'of' ('a state of lethargy').

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.