1
a
: ill health : illness
b
: a disordered, weakened, or unsound condition
2
: a specific disease
3
: nausea, queasiness
Examples of sickness in a Sentence
He died from an unknown sickness.
she was plagued by sickness most of her adult life
Recent Examples on the Web
Washing sheets in hot water every time isn’t necessary for linens that are lightly soiled—think no sweaty nights or sickness.
—
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2025
What initially presented as a mild sickness soon worsened; he was diagnosed with pneumonia and appendicitis.
—Michael Wells, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025
And even though modern medicine has all the tools to cure it, over a million people around the world still die from the sickness annually.
—NPR, 21 Oct. 2025
For the severely malnourished, simply starting to eat normal meals again can cause sickness—even death.
—Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sickness
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Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2025
What initially presented as a mild sickness soon worsened; he was diagnosed with pneumonia and appendicitis.
—Michael Wells, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025
And even though modern medicine has all the tools to cure it, over a million people around the world still die from the sickness annually.
—NPR, 21 Oct. 2025
For the severely malnourished, simply starting to eat normal meals again can cause sickness—even death.
—Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sickness
Cite this Entry
“Sickness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sickness. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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sickness
noun
sick·ness
ˈsik-nəs 
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