ailment

noun

ail·​ment ˈāl-mənt 

1

: a bodily disorder or chronic disease

a stomach ailment

2

: unrest, uneasiness

an emotional ailment

Synonyms of ailment

• disease
• illness
• ill
• condition
• fever
• sickness

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

May Reduce Nausea and Vomiting Traditional medicine has long used spearmint to treat stomach ailments like abdominal pain and nausea. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 11 Dec. 2025

Will the Dolphins continue to rely on him as bell cow back despite the ailment? —Miami Herald, 11 Dec. 2025

Tomlin said that Metcalf is progressing well from his ailment and is expected to play Monday when Pittsburgh takes on the Miami Dolphins. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 10 Dec. 2025

After missing the road trip’s first two games with a lower body ailment, rookie center Danila Yurov returned to the lineup and took his place as the middle man on the top line between Kaprizov and Zuccarello. —Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 7 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

ail entry 1 + -ment

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ailment

• bailment
• curtailment
• derailment
• entailment

Kids Definition

ailment

noun

ail·​ment ˈāl-mənt 

: a bodily disorder : sickness

Medical Definition

ailment

noun

ail·​ment ˈā(ə)l-mənt 

: a bodily disorder or chronic disease