What does sickness mean?
Sickness is a general noun meaning ill health or the condition of being unwell. It may also name a particular disease or disorder, although it is usually less precise and less formal than medical terms such as diagnosis, syndrome, or disease. In certain expressions, sickness means nausea, as in morning sickness, seasickness, and travel sickness. The word is common in everyday speech in British and American English and appears in contexts ranging from personal illness and workplace absence to benefits and public health. Although “sickness” and “illness” overlap considerably, sickness can emphasize either the state of being unwell or a specific condition affecting someone. Its broad, familiar character makes it useful in general writing, while its additional meaning of nausea gives it a distinctive place in common compound phrases.
nounThe condition of being ill, especially in general terms. It can also refer to a particular illness or disease, and in some contexts to nausea.
- The state or condition of being ill.
- A particular illness, disease, or disorder.
- Nausea, especially in specific compound expressions such as morning sickness or travel sickness.
"The medicine helped ease her sickness."
"Her sickness prevented her from attending the meeting."
"The doctor said that the sickness was likely to pass within a few days."
Usually plural when referring to different illnesses or diseases.
"Many childhood sicknesses begin with a fever."
Sickness can describe ill health in general, a particular disease, or even nausea, giving one word several surprisingly different uses.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of sickness
The word developed from the adjective sick, which came from Old English sic, meaning ill or unwell. Adding the Old English-derived suffix -ness produced the Middle English form sickness, meaning illness or a state of ill health. The related forms sickly and sicken developed from the same Germanic root, while modern European cognates include Dutch ziek and German sick.
Related word forms
How sickness is actually used
Sickness is common in both British and American English. It is somewhat less formal than medical terms such as disease and is often used for a person's illness in general or for a specific, short-lived condition.
Easily confused with sickness
Illness usually refers more broadly to a state of poor health or a disease, while sickness can also function as a less formal synonym and may specifically suggest a particular condition.
Sickness can mean nausea in phrases such as morning sickness, but its usual meaning is ill health or an illness.