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

In a new interview with BBC Two, Collins elaborated on the chronic ailments that previously prompted him to retire from performing following Genesis’ final tour in 2022. —Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 21 Jan. 2026

But Wilson has soured on Advent in recent years, and now views the private equity firm’s influence and lingering presence as a personification of Lululemon’s ailments. —Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 20 Jan. 2026

Meeting drifters and friendly folk along the way, Alvin is doggedly determined to make amends while facing ailments of his own. —James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Jan. 2026

Hufanga had played 17 games his previous two seasons and kept getting injured — a torn ACL here, a torn wrist ligament there and various ankle issues and other ailments. —Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 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