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

Delane injured his shoulder while being tackled on the interception, an ailment that cost him time in training camp. — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026

By April 4, he’d been placed on the 15-day IL with left hip inflammation, an ailment that later required a move to the 60-day IL in May. — Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026

Many 9/11 first responders alive today feel as Sanchez does, more preoccupied with their survivor’s guilt than their own ailments. — Lila Dominus, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026

October becomes a test of pain tolerance before addressing ailments in the offseason. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 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