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Definition of illness

illness

/ˈɪl.nəs/
ill · ness
Plural:illnesses
•
Adjective:ill
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illness Lexical Profile

illness Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A disease, ailment, or period of sickness affecting the body or mind; the state of being unwell.

Example

"She returned to work last week after recovering from a prolonged illness."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for illness
Antonyms
View all antonyms for illness

Word Nuance & Usage

While often used interchangeably in everyday speech, 'illness' refers to a person's subjective experience of feeling unwell or a period of poor health, whereas 'disease' refers to a specific, objectively diagnosable pathological condition.

• Rhymes for illness

• Nearby Words

illiteracy
illiterate
illiterately
illness
illogic
illogical
illogically

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the 16th century from the adjective 'ill' (borrowed from Old Norse 'illr', meaning 'evil' or 'bad') and the Old English suffix '-ness'. It originally meant 'moral wickedness' before shifting to its modern sense of 'sickness' in the late 17th century.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Illness. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/illness
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