What does nauseation mean?
Nauseation is a formal noun for the unpleasant, unsettled feeling commonly called nausea. It usually refers to queasiness in the stomach, though the sensation can also arise from causes such as motion, anxiety, medication, or a foul smell. The word describes both the physical sensation and, more formally, the experience of having it; it does not necessarily mean that the person has vomited. Because nausea is the standard everyday term, nauseation may sound elevated, medical, or literary. In careful prose, however, it can add precision, especially when describing a recurring or carefully observed symptom. It is also distinct from vomiting, which is the physical act of emptying the stomach rather than the preceding feeling of sickness.
nounThe sensation of feeling sick, especially when the stomach is unsettled; a feeling of nausea. The word is formal and relatively uncommon in everyday use.
- The sensation of feeling sick or queasy, especially as a result of an unsettled stomach.
- The process or experience of experiencing this sensation.
"The rolling motion of the ship was followed by a queasy nauseation that lasted for several hours."
"A brief nauseation followed, but the doctor found nothing seriously wrong."
"The strange smell caused immediate nauseation among several passengers."
The plural is grammatically possible but rare in modern usage, since the common term “nausea” is normally used uncountably.
"The medication was discontinued after the patient reported several nauseations."
A word for that unmistakable queasy feeling, often more noticeable for the worry it causes than for its physical intensity.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does nauseation come from?
Nauseation is an English derivation built on Latin nausea, meaning “sickness” or “queasiness.” Latin nausea itself was borrowed from Greek nausía, a noun associated with naus, “ship,” probably reflecting the distress experienced on a ship. The English family includes the common noun nausea, the adjective nauseous, and the verb nauseate, with nauseation naming the sensation or process.
Related word forms
How nauseation is actually used
Formal and relatively uncommon. In everyday speech, people usually say nausea or sickness; nauseation is more likely in medical, literary, or descriptive contexts.
Easily confused with nauseation
Nausea is the common everyday term for the unpleasant sensation of feeling sick, while nauseation is a more formal or literary label for that sensation or the experience of having it.
Nauseation refers to the queasy feeling that may precede vomiting, whereas vomiting is the physical act of expelling the contents of the stomach.