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

Amodei, however, remained optimistic about AI's impact on humanity and its ability, for instance, to cure medical maladies. —Mason Leath, ABC News, 11 June 2026

Many business leaders like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman argue companies are AI washing, or using the technology as an apt justification for layoffs when in reality, they’re enacted due to another underlying budgetary malady. —Jake Angelo, Fortune, 29 May 2026

Simmons also argued that medical tests would show that Chen’s maladies are not consistent with drinking Drano, but are more likely from acid reflux. —City News Service, Oc Register, 29 May 2026

Heart disease kills more people worldwide than any other malady, and even though doctors use cholesterol-lowering medications and recommend lifestyle habits to control major risk factors. —Alice Park, Time, 28 May 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