What does nausea mean?
Nausea is a noun for the unsettled, queasy feeling that often occurs in the stomach before vomiting. It is especially associated with seasickness, pregnancy, medication, food poisoning, and other physical causes, although it can also result from anxiety or intense disgust. In figurative contexts, nausea describes a powerful feeling of revulsion: someone may express nausea at unfairness, cruelty, or an unpleasant spectacle. The word is formal and medical in its literal sense but is also common in everyday discussion of illness. Its history connects it with the Greek word for ship sickness, reflecting the long-standing association between this condition and travel on rough seas. The related adjective nauseous and the verb nauseate are derived from the same source.
nounAn uneasy feeling in the stomach, often accompanied by the urge to vomit. Figuratively, it means a feeling of strong disgust or revulsion.
- An uneasy sensation in the stomach, often preceding vomiting.
- Strong disgust or revulsion toward something.
"She felt a sudden wave of nausea as the boat began to roll."
"The medication caused nausea and dizziness."
"Her expression of nausea was directed at the idea of eating worms."
Usually used as a mass noun; the plural form is uncommon and is normally used when referring to separate instances of the condition.
"The nurses recorded the patients' nauseas and other symptoms."
Nausea comes from a Greek word associated with ships: its ancient sense was literally seasickness.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does nausea come from?
Nausea comes from Greek nausía, meaning seasickness or sickness caused by the sea, from naus, meaning ship. English borrowed the word in the 16th century, initially primarily for seasickness and later for the broader physical feeling of queasiness. Its figurative sense, meaning disgust or revulsion, developed later. Related English words such as nauseous and nauseate continue the same semantic tradition, while nautical, naval, and navigate belong to a wider family associated with the ancient Greek word for ship.
Related word forms
How nausea is actually used
In medical contexts, nausea usually refers specifically to the physical symptom. In figurative use, it conveys disgust, revulsion, or moral objection; in British English, "nauseous" is also commonly used to mean disgusted, while American English more often uses it for the physical symptom.
Easily confused with nausea
Nausea is the noun naming the unpleasant physical feeling, whereas nauseous is an adjective meaning nauseated or causing nausea.