Definition

A condition that makes a person unhealthy, often caused by a disease or sickness.

Example

She took a week off work to recover from her illness.

Conversation

Have you heard about Sarah's recent illness?

Yeah, I heard she was in the hospital for a while.

It's really sad; I hope she gets better soon.

Me too! It's tough to see someone you care about dealing with an illness.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Illness → The word originates from the Old English 'ilness', which means 'sickness' or 'disease'. It is derived from 'ill', meaning 'sick' or 'unwell', combined with the suffix '-ness', which denotes a state or condition. Therefore, 'illness' refers to the state of being ill or unwell.

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'ill' to remember that 'illness' means the state of being unwell.

Visually Confused Words