1
: a bodily disorder or chronic disease
a stomach ailment
2
: unrest, uneasiness
an emotional ailment
Examples of ailment in a Sentence
She suffered from a chronic back ailment.
The doctor treated him for a variety of ailments.
Recent Examples on the Web
Denver’s linebacker room has been a game-by-game carousel this season, with Greenlaw and starting linebacker Alex Singleton just starting to develop some synergy before Greenlaw’s latest ailment.
—
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 24 Dec. 2025
Roundworms and whipworms both live in the intestine and cause various ailments, including abdominal pain, nausea, fever and diarrhea.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 22 Dec. 2025
Jackson has also been unavailable for several practices because of various ailments.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 22 Dec. 2025
Mitchell and Wiggins are listed as questionable to play on Sunday with their ailments.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ailment
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Luca Evans, Denver Post, 24 Dec. 2025
Roundworms and whipworms both live in the intestine and cause various ailments, including abdominal pain, nausea, fever and diarrhea.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 22 Dec. 2025
Jackson has also been unavailable for several practices because of various ailments.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 22 Dec. 2025
Mitchell and Wiggins are listed as questionable to play on Sunday with their ailments.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ailment
Cite this Entry
“Ailment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ailment. Accessed 26 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
ailment
noun
ail·ment
ˈā(ə)l-mənt 
: a bodily disorder or chronic disease
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