affliction

noun

af·​flic·​tion ə-ˈflik-shən How to pronounce affliction (audio)
1
: a cause of persistent pain or distress
a mysterious affliction
2
: great suffering
felt empathy with their affliction
3
: the state of being afflicted by something that causes suffering
her affliction with polio

Examples of affliction in a Sentence

She lost her sight and is now learning to live with her affliction. He died from a mysterious affliction.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This affliction largely evaporated with the passage of the 2017 tax law. William Baldwin, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025 The finding could improve the treatment of both mental, emotional and physical afflictions. Michael Franco may 06, New Atlas, 6 May 2025 Paradoxically, these efforts sometimes undermine their own goals, concealing, and at times exacerbating, the afflictions of the most vulnerable. Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025 Mat is also remaining in Tar Valon, in the hopes that Nynaeve will be able to help cure him of his affliction, plagued with memories not his own. Leigh Butler, TIME, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for affliction

Word History

Etymology

Middle English affliccioun "misery, distress, self-inflicted pain," borrowed from Anglo-French afflicion, borrowed from Late Latin afflīctiōn-, afflīctiō, from Latin afflīgere "to afflict" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of affliction was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Affliction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/affliction. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

affliction

noun
af·​flic·​tion ə-ˈflik-shən How to pronounce affliction (audio)
1
: the state of being afflicted
2
: something that causes pain or unhappiness

More from Merriam-Webster on affliction

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