Definition

Noun: A condition of fatigue, disorientation, and sleep disturbance caused by rapid travel across several time zones, which disrupts the body's internal circadian clock.

Usage

"Jet lag" is an uncountable noun. It describes the physical and mental state resulting from long-distance air travel. It is typically experienced after a flight.

Examples

• After flying from Tokyo to New York, she suffered from severe jet lag for three days.
• It usually takes me a week to get over the jet lag.
• He tried to minimize jet lag by adjusting his sleep schedule before the trip.

Advanced Usage

• "to have jet lag": To be experiencing the symptoms.
  • I have terrible jet lag; I woke up at 3 a.m. local time.
• "to get over/recover from jet lag": To return to a normal sleep pattern.
  • It took him a few days to recover from the jet lag.

Variants and Related Words

• Jet-lagged (adjective): Describing the state of suffering from jet lag.
  • The jet-lagged business traveler struggled to stay awake during the meeting.

Synonyms

• Circadian dysrhythmia (medical/formal term)
• Flight fatigue
• Time-zone fatigue

Related Idioms/Phrases

• "To fight jet lag": To take active measures to reduce its effects.
  • She drinks plenty of water and avoids alcohol to fight jet lag.

Noun

1. fatigue and sleep disturbance resulting from disruption of the body's normal circadian rhythm as a result of jet travel