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 of sickness

• illness

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

His office has continually pointed to the senator’s leg stiffness as a result of his childhood polio sickness. —Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 4 Feb. 2026

Can someone bring up sea-sickness bracelets? —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 3 Feb. 2026

That sickness felt like a plague Wednesday as Auburn shot 39 of them on 26 Texas fouls. —Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 30 Jan. 2026

In one of the most extraordinary escapes in tennis history, Carlos Alcaraz overcame sickness and major physical difficulties to defeat Alexander Zverev in five sets and reach his first Australian Open final. —Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026

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