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

Cruise ship sickness Around 1,700 passengers are being held on a cruise ship after reports of an illness, but it’s not linked to the hantavirus outbreak, French authorities said. —Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 14 May 2026

This was accompanied by sickness, bloating and diarrhea. —Adam England, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026

Olena started with the children, the most vulnerable refugees as well as the most likely vectors of new sicknesses in the theater. —James Verini, The Atlantic, 12 May 2026

Hantavirus was first identified as a cause of sickness of one of the cases on May 2. —ABC News, 9 May 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