malady

noun

mal·​a·​dy ˈma-lə-dē 

plural maladies

1

: a disease or disorder of the animal body

told by his physicians that he had a fatal malady

—Willa Cather

2

: an unwholesome or disordered condition

poverty, homelessness, and other social maladies

Synonyms

• disease
• ailment
• illness
• ill
• fever

Examples of malady in a Sentence

in the olden days people were always suffering from some unknown malady

Recent Examples on the Web

Perhaps Florence might have learned to cast aside the envy that seemed to be suppressed only by her outbursts and insults, her ever-increasing appetite, a collection of maladies that seemed to anger and horrify her father even further. —Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025

Of course, this malady could be overcome by ordering a DSG automatic GLI, but then any fun gleaned by rowing your gears is also lost. —ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2025

The Minnesota Vikings are in the market for a wide receiver thanks to Jordan Addison's suspension and a sudden rash of injuries to their receiving corps, as both Justin Jefferson and Jalen Nailor are nursing individual maladies. —Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025

The pics sparked an online frenzy, with keyboard physicians diagnosing all sorts of maladies. —Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English maladie, from Anglo-French, from malade sick, from Latin male habitus in bad condition

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

malady

noun

mal·​a·​dy ˈmal-əd-ē 

plural maladies

: a disease or disorder of the body or mind : ailment

Medical Definition

malady

noun

mal·​a·​dy ˈmal-əd-ē 

plural maladies

: disease, sickness

a fatal malady