sickness

noun

sick·​ness ˈsik-nəs 

1

a

: ill health : illness

b

: a disordered, weakened, or unsound condition

2

: a specific disease

3

: nausea, queasiness

Synonyms

• illness
• indisposition
• unhealthiness
• unsoundness

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

Gin Gins Ginger Candy $15 at Amazon Motion sickness can strike without warning, especially during turbulent flights or bumpy car rides. —Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 9 May 2025

Indicative of periods of stress, sickness, and malnutrition, these signs suggest that the majority of corpses buried at Ca’ Granda came from the poorer classes of Milan, confirming that the hospital’s treatments were truly available to all. —Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 5 May 2025

But that drop is just one indication of serious financial sickness at the EV maker, problems brought on by falling sales for the first time in its history and falling prices for electric vehicles. —Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2025

Among them are loss, sickness and the perception of being a burden to others. —Ashley Milne-Tyte, NPR, 24 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sickness

• acute mountain sickness
• African sleeping sickness
• altitude sickness
• decompression sickness
• milk sickness
• morning sickness
• motion sickness
• mountain sickness
• radiation sickness
• serum sickness
• sickness benefit
• sleeping sickness
• travel sickness

Rhymes for sickness

• quickness
• thickness
• homesickness
• seasickness

Kids Definition

sickness

noun

sick·​ness ˈsik-nəs 

1

: ill health : illness

2

: a specific disease : malady

3

: nausea sense 1

Medical Definition

sickness

noun

sick·​ness ˈsik-nəs 

1

: the condition of being ill : ill health

2

: a specific disease

3

: nausea