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

Since then, Highsmith’s contracts have not been protected against that knee ailment. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2026

In the camps, aid workers were seeing physical ailments with no clear cause, along with signs of post-traumatic stress and a constant sense of insecurity. — Sonia Osorio, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta is being held out of practice with a hip injury, and coach Dan Campbell is hopeful the ailment doesn't linger into the season. — CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

The Wizards were going to give Whitmore every opportunity to regain his spot in the playing rotation, but doctors discovered a dangerous blood clot in one of Whitmore’s shoulders, and the ailment forced Whitmore to miss the remainder of the season. — Josh Robbins, New York Times, 20 Aug. 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