What does sickish mean?
Sickish is an adjective meaning somewhat sick, unwell, or queasy. It is especially useful when describing a mild, temporary feeling of illness rather than a serious condition: a person may say they feel sickish after eating unfamiliar food or during a bumpy journey. The word can also be used informally for something that seems morally objectionable, unpleasant, or distasteful, although this sense is more subjective and often conversational. Compared with sick, sickish softens the statement and suggests a lesser degree; compared with sickly, it more often implies a temporary feeling rather than chronic poor health. The term is understood in both British and American English, but its figurative use may be more familiar in informal British speech.
Somewhat sick or unwell; feeling mildly queasy or indisposed.
"He became sickish in the heat and asked to sit near an open window."
Usually describes a mild or temporary feeling of illness.
Unwholesome, distasteful, or morally objectionable.
"The comedian told a sickish joke that left the audience uncomfortable."
This figurative sense is informal and subjective.
Sickish has a double life: it can describe a mildly unsettled stomach or, informally, something morally distasteful.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sickish come from?
Sickish is formed from the English word sick with the suffix -ish, which gives meanings such as somewhat or resembling. Its health-related sense follows that pattern: it describes a person who is somewhat sick. The word shares its root with sick, sickness, and sickly, all of which continue the older Germanic vocabulary associated with illness.
How sickish is actually used
The health-related sense is mildly informal, though common in ordinary speech. The figurative sense is more informal and can sound stronger or more judgmental than merely saying that something is distasteful.
Easily confused with sickish
Sick describes being ill or affected by illness, while sickish means mildly unwell or somewhat queasy.
Sickly can describe persistent poor health or a weak appearance, whereas sickish usually suggests a temporary or mild feeling of illness.