ailment

noun

ail·​ment ˈāl-mənt How to pronounce ailment (audio)
Synonyms of ailmentnext
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
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.
The France forward failed to recover from a left-hamstring ailment that has kept him sidelined since late April. ABC News, 10 May 2026 Manager Tony Vitello shared that Webb was dealing with knee discomfort, but Webb didn’t use an ailment as an excuse for his performance. Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 9 May 2026 The Hornets were down to seven healthy players for the final stretch of games, including Williams with an assortment of ailments. Joe Davidson may 7, Sacbee.com, 7 May 2026 Sure, George Springer just returned, and Addison Barger, recovered from ankle ailments, should be back Friday. Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 7 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for ailment

Word History

Etymology

ail entry 1 + -ment

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ailment was in 1606

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ailment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ailment. Accessed 14 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

ailment

noun
ail·​ment ˈāl-mənt How to pronounce ailment (audio)
: a bodily disorder : sickness

Medical Definition

ailment

noun
ail·​ment ˈā(ə)l-mənt How to pronounce ailment (audio)
: a bodily disorder or chronic disease

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