Work clothes worn by soldiers or military personnel, designed for durability and camouflage; or extreme tiredness.
From French 'fatigue,' derived from 'fatiguer' (to tire), which may come from Latin 'fatigare.' In military context, 'fatigue' referred to non-combat work, and 'fatigue clothes' were practical wear for such labor. The plural 'fatigues' became standard for the garment itself.
Combat fatigues in different patterns literally save lives—the right camouflage can reduce visibility by up to 60%, which is why every military spends millions testing patterns against their specific terrain! The digital camouflage pattern called 'pixelated camo' was designed using actual computer science algorithms.
Military fatigue uniforms were designed for male bodies and only standardized for women soldiers after decades of exclusion from combat roles (1990s-2010s in most Western militaries).
Use 'fatigues' neutrally; ensure uniforms and gear discussions acknowledge gender-specific fit and access equity in military contexts.
["combat uniform","military wear"]
Women soldiers fought for gear designed for their bodies; military uniform standardization now includes women's fit specifications across many armed forces.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.