sickness

noun

sick·​ness ˈsik-nəs 

1

a

: ill health : illness

b

: a disordered, weakened, or unsound condition

2

: a specific disease

3

: nausea, queasiness

Synonyms

• illness
• indisposition
• unhealthiness
• unsoundness

Examples of sickness in a Sentence

He died from an unknown sickness.

she was plagued by sickness most of her adult life

Recent Examples on the Web

Highly pathogenic avian influenza can infect domestic poultry, resulting in high sickness and death rates, officials said, and in this current outbreak, cattle, cats and other mammals also are susceptible. —Chuck Fieldman, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2025

Some damages are tax-free under Section 104 of the tax code, but only physical injuries and physical sickness qualify. —Robert W. Wood, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024

The sickness is in addition to already having had a questionable status on the injury report due to a nursing an ankle injury. —David Faris, Newsweek, 28 Dec. 2024

With the flu, someone can have a relatively mild sickness that lasts only a few days, or severe illness that lands them in the hospital. —Katie Wiseman, The Indianapolis Star, 27 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sickness

• acute mountain sickness
• African sleeping sickness
• altitude sickness
• decompression sickness
• milk sickness
• morning sickness
• motion sickness
• mountain sickness
• radiation sickness
• serum sickness
• sickness benefit
• sleeping sickness
• travel sickness

Kids Definition

sickness

noun

sick·​ness ˈsik-nəs 

1

: ill health : illness

2

: a specific disease : malady

3

: nausea sense 1

Medical Definition

sickness

noun

sick·​ness ˈsik-nəs 

1

: the condition of being ill : ill health

2

: a specific disease

3

: nausea