ailment

noun

ail·​ment ˈāl-mənt How to pronounce ailment (audio)
1
: a bodily disorder or chronic disease
a stomach ailment
2
: unrest, uneasiness
an emotional ailment

Examples of ailment in a Sentence

She suffered from a chronic back ailment. The doctor treated him for a variety of ailments.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But the truth is, the most common tomato plant ailments are relatively straightforward to manage. Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 11 July 2025 According to the 2nd century text, an unknown Roman senator who rose to the high rank of praetor once requested that Caligula grant him a leave of absence due to an undescribed ailment. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 July 2025 New York state’s 2024 camp incident report also shows COVID-19, pink eye, coxsackie virus and gastroenteritis were common camp ailments. Michael Loria, USA Today, 8 July 2025 She’s also inflicted with an auditory ailment that requires her to wear hearing aids — a fact that allows Slama to keep messing with the sound design, enhancing the overall sense of disorientation. Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for ailment

Word History

Etymology

ail entry 1 + -ment

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ailment was in 1606

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ailment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ailment. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

ailment

noun
ail·​ment ˈāl-mənt How to pronounce ailment (audio)
: a bodily disorder : sickness

Medical Definition

ailment

noun
ail·​ment ˈā(ə)l-mənt How to pronounce ailment (audio)
: a bodily disorder or chronic disease

More from Merriam-Webster on ailment

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