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

How does sickness affect the formation and maintenance of their social relationships? —Sebastian Stockmaier, Discover Magazine, 31 Oct. 2024

And her daughter, my mother, who was also a terribly strong woman, who had sickness. —Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2024

Experts say similar signs were scribed into churches and homes, as well as other caves, and were used to ward off sickness, death or poor harvests. —Lianne Kolirin, CNN, 29 Oct. 2024

There is rampant spiritual sickness pervading the West, and what is called luxury, in every area of life, seems to soothe its symptoms. —Harmony Holiday, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 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