Burnout
BURN-owtnoun
What it means
The occupational condition produced by a culture that has a word for it precisely so that it does not have to change.
What it actually means
You are exhausted and it is your responsibility to fix it.
How it is used in a sentence
"Since the restructure, we've seen a lot of burnout across the team."
Filed under
Work & Ambition — Everything your employer calls a benefit and your therapist calls a symptom.
Diagnosis — The phrase already names a real problem. We define it properly.
Related entries
Quiet Quitting
Work & AmbitionKWY-it KWIT-ingnounDiagnosis
The radical act of performing the exact job described in the employment contract.
Real meaningWorking to rule, but it sounds worse now.
Toxic Positivity
Work & AmbitionTOK-sik poz-ih-TIV-ih-teenounDiagnosis
An insistence on good vibes deployed to prevent anyone naming the problem.
Real meaningBe unhappy quietly.
Hustle Culture
Work & AmbitionHUS-ul KUL-chernounDiagnosis
The belief that rest is a character flaw, promoted most aggressively by people who no longer need to work.
Real meaningNobody is going to give you your evening back.