sleep debt
nounAU, NZ, UK /ˌsliːp ˈdet/ · CA, US, SC /ˌslip ˈdɛt/
1
The cumulative effect of not obtaining enough sleep, especially as seen as able to be made up for by sleeping more than usual.
- Adenosine levels can be quickly righted after a few nights of good sleep, however. This gave rise to a scientific consensus that sleep debt could be forgiven with a couple of quality snoozes — as reflected in casual statements like “I’ll catch up on sleep” or “I’ll be more awake tomorrow.”2022 June 24, Oliver Whang, “The Sleep Debt Collector Is Here”, in The New York Times, →ISSN: