1
: a bodily disorder or chronic disease
a stomach ailment
2
: unrest, uneasiness
an emotional ailment
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
Currently, people of African decent comprise 2% or less of the global genomic data — information that is essential to understanding risks of certain diseases and other ailments and is key to crafting effective treatments and preventative measures.
—
Beth Warren, Nashville Tennessean, 9 Oct. 2025
Tkachuk felt the toll of playing through an accumulation of ailments in 2024-25, including a hip injury suffered during the 4 Nations tournament.
—Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
But for babies or young kids with the most serious ailments, there is no artificial heart specifically designed for them.
—Elissa Nadworny, NPR, 9 Oct. 2025
Sea, Poison is circuitous, mimicking the experience of mystery ailments, the bureaucracy of medical care, and its endless wormholes.
—Diana Arterian, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ailment
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Beth Warren, Nashville Tennessean, 9 Oct. 2025
Tkachuk felt the toll of playing through an accumulation of ailments in 2024-25, including a hip injury suffered during the 4 Nations tournament.
—Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
But for babies or young kids with the most serious ailments, there is no artificial heart specifically designed for them.
—Elissa Nadworny, NPR, 9 Oct. 2025
Sea, Poison is circuitous, mimicking the experience of mystery ailments, the bureaucracy of medical care, and its endless wormholes.
—Diana Arterian, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ailment
Cite this Entry
“Ailment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ailment. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
ailment
noun
ail·ment
ˈā(ə)l-mənt 
: a bodily disorder or chronic disease
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