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

Sam Rivera, executive director of OnPoint NYC, a support center for substance abusers and other vulnerable people, says opioid users have long had strategies for keeping dope sickness away. —Maurice Tamman, USA TODAY, 22 Dec. 2024

The old playbook — detecting problems at a patient zero (i.e. first signs of sickness, or in security terms the first signs of a vulnerability) and then reacting often won't cut it anymore. —Adrian Bridgwater, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024

Slater’s mansion is terra-cotta red, which in cinematic color theory signals danger and lust; the snakes on the island are yellow, for sickness and deceit. —Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 6 Dec. 2024

Some sicknesses also appeared near the bottom of the list. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 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