1
: a bodily disorder or chronic disease
a stomach ailment
2
: unrest, uneasiness
an emotional ailment
Synonyms
Examples of ailment in a Sentence
She suffered from a chronic back ailment.
The doctor treated him for a variety of ailments.
Recent Examples on the Web
Part of that growth is due to a $600 million critical care building that opened in 2021 for patients with cancer, heart ailments and other complex conditions.
—
Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 2 Apr. 2024
The place is believed to have a healing effect on physical and spiritual ailments, according to the study, and is considered a sacred place to make sacrifices to this day.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2024
Declining emphasis on individual health has the potential to lead to a significant increase in rates of chronic disease, including the risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, joint diseases, and respiratory ailments.
—Sai Balasubramanian, M.d., J.d., Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
The exact relationship between health of mouth and teeth and physical ailments elsewhere in the body is not well understood and in some cases, is contentious—but experts agree there are links that should no longer be overlooked.
—Lola Butcher, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024
Buckingham Palace has not specified the type of cancer or at what stage it was found, though the announcement marked a break with royal history that has often seen ailments hidden from the public.
—Max Burman, NBC News, 22 Mar. 2024
As well as a relaxing moment for your mind, a bath is a full-body heat treatment that can help with a number of physical ailments.
—Georgia Day, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2024
Labor brokers loan money for the surgeries, even to resolve ailments as routine as heavy, painful periods.
—Qadri Inzamam Saumya Khandelwal, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024
By making Barrett’s ailment a focal point and giving it specific importance, the filmmakers end making their film disjointed.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 16 Mar. 2024
Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 2 Apr. 2024
The place is believed to have a healing effect on physical and spiritual ailments, according to the study, and is considered a sacred place to make sacrifices to this day.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2024
Declining emphasis on individual health has the potential to lead to a significant increase in rates of chronic disease, including the risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, joint diseases, and respiratory ailments.
—Sai Balasubramanian, M.d., J.d., Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
The exact relationship between health of mouth and teeth and physical ailments elsewhere in the body is not well understood and in some cases, is contentious—but experts agree there are links that should no longer be overlooked.
—Lola Butcher, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024
Buckingham Palace has not specified the type of cancer or at what stage it was found, though the announcement marked a break with royal history that has often seen ailments hidden from the public.
—Max Burman, NBC News, 22 Mar. 2024
As well as a relaxing moment for your mind, a bath is a full-body heat treatment that can help with a number of physical ailments.
—Georgia Day, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2024
Labor brokers loan money for the surgeries, even to resolve ailments as routine as heavy, painful periods.
—Qadri Inzamam Saumya Khandelwal, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024
By making Barrett’s ailment a focal point and giving it specific importance, the filmmakers end making their film disjointed.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 16 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ailment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
First Known Use
1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near ailment
Cite this Entry
“Ailment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ailment. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Medical Definition
ailment
noun
ail·ment
ˈā(ə)l-mənt 
: a bodily disorder or chronic disease
More from Merriam-Webster on ailment
Nglish: Translation of ailment for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of ailment for Arabic Speakers
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