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
The Blue Devils never won a single-possession game a season ago, but as guard Isaiah Evans took the game-winning three without a soul near him, Duke’s previous ailment disappeared.
—
Noah White, Miami Herald, 3 Dec. 2025
Misa and Skinner, now on injured reserve with lower-body ailments, both took part in Tuesday’s practice at Sharks Ice, with Skinner taking reps with the second power play unit.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025
But Elliss hasn’t been able to take advantage of available snaps, with a series of ailments — first a shoulder injury that knocked him out for Weeks 6 and 7, and now the hamstring.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 1 Dec. 2025
No one wants to add tech neck to their ailments, and this gadget avoids that (and the pins and needles feeling in your arm) completely.
—Carin Ryan, Travel + Leisure, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ailment
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Noah White, Miami Herald, 3 Dec. 2025
Misa and Skinner, now on injured reserve with lower-body ailments, both took part in Tuesday’s practice at Sharks Ice, with Skinner taking reps with the second power play unit.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025
But Elliss hasn’t been able to take advantage of available snaps, with a series of ailments — first a shoulder injury that knocked him out for Weeks 6 and 7, and now the hamstring.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 1 Dec. 2025
No one wants to add tech neck to their ailments, and this gadget avoids that (and the pins and needles feeling in your arm) completely.
—Carin Ryan, Travel + Leisure, 1 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 7 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
ailment
noun
ail·ment
ˈā(ə)l-mənt 
: a bodily disorder or chronic disease
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