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
His ailments included a core muscle issue and a calf strain before Davis injured his hand while defending a driving Lauri Markkanen of Utah last month.
—
Schuyler Dixon, Baltimore Sun, 4 Feb. 2026
The potential life-changing effects caused by CTE, or any other ailment associated with football, have not deterred America’s appetite to play or watch the game, which is why the NFL, NCAA and most likely your neighborhood high school are adding weeks to their respective seasons.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Feb. 2026
Nancy Guthrie is described as having some physical ailments and limited mobility, but does not have cognitive issues, her family said, according to the sheriff.
—Jon Haworth, ABC News, 3 Feb. 2026
Then came the physical ailments.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ailment
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Schuyler Dixon, Baltimore Sun, 4 Feb. 2026
The potential life-changing effects caused by CTE, or any other ailment associated with football, have not deterred America’s appetite to play or watch the game, which is why the NFL, NCAA and most likely your neighborhood high school are adding weeks to their respective seasons.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Feb. 2026
Nancy Guthrie is described as having some physical ailments and limited mobility, but does not have cognitive issues, her family said, according to the sheriff.
—Jon Haworth, ABC News, 3 Feb. 2026
Then came the physical ailments.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ailment
Cite this Entry
“Ailment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ailment. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
ailment
noun
ail·ment
ˈā(ə)l-mənt 
: a bodily disorder or chronic disease
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