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

Luther is shown struggling with a sickness early in the movie. —Tommy McArdle, People.com, 23 May 2025

Organic materials like wood and oil that don’t fully burn can leave polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons — or PAHs — which can harm the immune system and cause sickness in the short term and cancer in the long term. —Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025

Slowed by a sickness, the 19-year-old left-hander threw two innings in his first action in 10 days and low Single-A Lake Elsinore banged out 14 hits in a 12-3 win over visiting Fresno. —Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 May 2025

In America, the richest men are taking satisfaction in abandoning the world's poorest children to sickness and death. —Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025

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

Rhymes for sickness

• quickness
• thickness
• homesickness
• seasickness

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