malady

noun

mal·​a·​dy ˈma-lə-dē 

plural maladies

1

: a disease or disorder of the animal body

… told by his physicians that he had a fatal malady …

—Willa Cather

2

: an unwholesome or disordered condition

poverty, homelessness, and other social maladies

Synonyms of malady

• disease
• ailment
• illness
• ill
• fever

Examples of malady in a Sentence

in the olden days people were always suffering from some unknown malady

Recent Examples on the Web

Medical experts say the deadly malady can strike victims after as little as two years of working with the material. —Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026

Musgrove’s history of performing well and working through maladies bolsters the Padres’ confidence. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026

Yet after three straight seasons with identical point totals, 41 apiece, Strome had played in just over half the team’s games this year between injuries, illness and healthy scratches peppered into that mix of maladies. —Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 7 Mar. 2026

The maladies also come at a time in Cleveland’s schedule where some of its more notable matchups are coming up quite soon. —Law Murray, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English maladie, from Anglo-French, from malade sick, from Latin male habitus in bad condition

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

malady

noun

mal·​a·​dy ˈmal-əd-ē 

plural maladies

: a disease or disorder of the body or mind : ailment

Medical Definition

malady

noun

mal·​a·​dy ˈmal-əd-ē 

plural maladies

: disease, sickness

a fatal malady