ailment

noun

ail·​ment ˈāl-mənt 

1

: a bodily disorder or chronic disease

a stomach ailment

2

: unrest, uneasiness

an emotional ailment

Synonyms of ailment

• disease
• illness
• ill
• condition
• fever
• sickness

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

Mendoza envisions Mauricio providing infield depth as Polanco and Baty (jammed thumb) deal with ailments. —Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026

The study examined more than 105,000 adults ages 39-69 over the course of 30 years and defined healthy aging as reaching 70 without incurring a chronic ailment or heart disease, while maintaining physical, mental and cognitive health. —Rose Kennedy, AJC.com, 6 Apr. 2026

Reid missed a couple games amid these struggles with an ankle injury, but a shoulder ailment seems to be a bigger culprit. —Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2026

But then a second ailment cost him two weeks, and he's been inconsistent in the new year. —Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

ail entry 1 + -ment

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ailment

• bailment
• curtailment
• derailment
• entailment

Kids Definition

ailment

noun

ail·​ment ˈāl-mənt 

: a bodily disorder : sickness

Medical Definition

ailment

noun

ail·​ment ˈā(ə)l-mənt 

: a bodily disorder or chronic disease