Illness Definition: Poor Health & Sickness Explained

Meaning 1：Poor health (illness)

illness 🔊

/ˈɪlnəs/

The state of being unwell in your body or mind, like having a cold, fever, or feeling anxious.

Illness example: child in bed with fever, mother checking temperature

Poor health 🔊

➕

/pʊr hɛlθ/

A general term for being sick or having a disease, affecting the body or mind.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From 'ill' (Old Norse 'illr' meaning bad) + suffix '-ness' (state); denotes state of being ill.

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'I'll-ness' – when you say 'I'll be sick', you're describing an illness.

📖 Example

My son kept coughing for two days, so I took him to the doctor to check for any serious illness. 🔊 My son kept coughing for two days, so I took him to the doctor to check for any serious illness.

🔗 Collocations

serious illness – a severe disease that can be life-threatening

mental illness – a condition that affects a person's thinking, feeling, or mood

chronic illness – a long-lasting health condition that requires ongoing management

🔄 Synonyms

disease (n.) – a specific disorder of structure or function in an organism, often with identifiable symptoms

sickness (n.) – the state of being ill, especially with nausea or vomiting

ailment (n.) – a minor or mild illness

🚫 Antonyms

health (n.) – the state of being free from illness or injury

wellness (n.) – the state of being in good health, especially as an actively pursued goal

fitness (n.) – the condition of being physically strong and healthy

🌱 Derivatives

ill (adj.) – not in good health; sick

ill-health (n.) – a state of poor physical or mental health

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'illness' emerged in the 15th century, combining Old Norse 'illr' (bad) with the noun suffix '-ness'. It replaced 'sickness' in many contexts and is now the most common term for poor health in medical and everyday use.