What does sickliest mean?
“Sickliest” is the superlative of “sickly” and means more prone to illness, weakness, or poor health than other people or things. It can also function as a superlative of “sick,” although “sickest” is much more usual when describing someone who is currently ill. The word often conveys not merely a temporary illness but a recurring condition or a conspicuously frail constitution: one might speak of the sickliest child in a family or the sickliest member of an expedition. Its tone is relatively formal and sometimes literary, giving it an old-fashioned or dramatic quality. In everyday speech, “sickest” is normally the more direct and idiomatic choice, while “sickliest” can be useful when drawing attention to repeated illness or habitual vulnerability.
adjectiveThe superlative of sickly: more prone to illness or weakness than others.
- More prone to illness or physical weakness than others.
- More affected by illness than others.
"The sickliest child in the ward was the first to recover."
"By morning, the sickliest patient had begun to rally."
"The sickliest kitten in the litter was adopted first."
"The doctor was the sickliest member of the expedition."
Sickliest is the superlative of sickly—and sounds like an old-fashioned character in a Dickens novel.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of sickliest
The word is formed from Middle English “sick,” which descends from Old English “sic,” meaning ill or unwell, with the adjective-forming suffix “-ly” and the superlative suffix “-est.” The related forms “sickly” and “sickness” share the same Germanic root and express related ideas of illness, frailty, or lack of health.
Related word forms
How sickliest is actually used
In modern standard English, “sickest” is generally more common when referring to the person who is currently ill. “Sickliest” is more formal or literary and often suggests a recurring or habitual state of poor health.
Easily confused with sickliest
“Sickest” is the usual superlative of “sick,” whereas “sickliest” is formally the superlative of “sickly” and can suggest a habitual tendency toward illness.