"fatigues" means: Menial duties, especially as punishment.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
fatigues
(military) Menial duties, especially as punishment.
Definitions
#1·Apr 27, 2026
(military) Menial duties, especially as punishment.
For parents
"fatigues" means: Menial duties, especially as punishment.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
"fatigues" means: Menial duties, especially as punishment.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.
Heard in the wild
“Dressed in fatigues. Doesn't have the courage to actually join the military. Not that we would want him. Already have our fair share of assholes.”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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#2·Apr 27, 2026
(US) Military clothing worn when doing menial tasks.
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Other words near "fatigues" (F)
fat cityfat farmfatfuckfat henfather-daughter dayfathomFatimafatkinifat knotfat logicFatmericanfatmobile
Browse all slang words starting with F.