Use knackered for informal British contexts to describe severe fatigue, especially after physical or mental exertion.
Use knackered for informal British contexts to describe severe fatigue, especially after physical or mental exertion.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| I am knackered about the exam. | I am knackered after the exam. |
| She knackered the marathon. | She was knackered after the marathon. |
| He sounded knackeredly. | He sounded knackered. |
Use knackered for informal British speech to label objects that are broken, worn out, or beyond repair.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| I am knackered, my phone is broken. | My phone is knackered, it is broken. |
| The chair is knackered, but still usable. | The chair is knackered, meaning it is beyond repair. |
| He knackered the engine. | The engine is knackered. |
Use knackered in informal British contexts to convey severe fatigue or to label something that is broken beyond repair; avoid it in formal writing.
Using knackered in formal or academic prose, where a neutral term like exhausted or broken is preferred.
From British slang knacker, originally meaning a horse sent to the knacker’s yard for disposal, later extended to mean to wear out or kill, giving the adjective knackered for something exhausted or broken.
What does knackered mean in British English?
It means extremely tired or exhausted, and it can also describe something that is broken or no longer usable.
Is knackered a formal word?
No, it is informal slang and is usually used in casual conversation.
Can knackered be used to describe objects?
Yes, it can describe an object that is worn out, broken, or beyond repair.
Where does the word knackered come from?
It derives from the British slang knacker, a term for a person who disposes of dead animals, later meaning to wear out or kill.
How is knackered different from tired?
While tired is neutral, knackered adds a stronger, informal sense of extreme fatigue or brokenness.