morbidity
noun
mor·bid·i·ty
mȯr-ˈbi-də-tē 
1
: the quality or state of being morbid
especially
: an attitude, quality, or state of mind marked by excessive gloom
… there must have been some strange morbidity in his nature which made him take a grim pleasure in self-torture. —
Somerset Maugham
Somerset Maugham 2
: a diseased state or symptom : ill health
Parasitic protozoans and helminths represent two major groups of infectious agents that are responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality in human and animal populations.—Adel A. F. Mahmoud
Adel A. F. Mahmoud
also
: a complication or undesirable side effect following surgery or medical treatment
Because laryngectomy results in substantial functional morbidity, including the loss of the natural voice … alternative forms of treatment have been developed. —The New England Journal of Medicine
The New England Journal of Medicine 3
: the incidence of disease : the rate of illness (as in a specified population or group)
Because the young lack immune capability, the morbidity of viral upper respiratory diseases often reaches 100 percent of kittens in a litter or household.—Margaret Reister
Margaret Reister
also
: the incidence of complications or undesirable side effects following surgery or medical treatment
… radical prostatectomy in this setting … is associated with a very high morbidity. —Phillip W. Kantoff
Phillip W. Kantoff Examples of morbidity in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Pascale, whose research centers around moral psychology and the ethics of fascination with morbidity and death, said a big consideration is whether that fascination is directed toward real or fictional horrors.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
Noncommunicable diseases now account for about two-thirds of global mortality and morbidity, including both deaths and broader burden from disease.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
Physicians want to know that this technology is going to improve outcomes, reduce morbidity, reduce death and complications.
—Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025
The conditions people use acetaminophen to treat during pregnancy are far more dangerous than any theoretical risks and can create severe morbidity and mortality for the pregnant person and the fetus.
—Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for morbidity
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Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
Noncommunicable diseases now account for about two-thirds of global mortality and morbidity, including both deaths and broader burden from disease.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
Physicians want to know that this technology is going to improve outcomes, reduce morbidity, reduce death and complications.
—Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025
The conditions people use acetaminophen to treat during pregnancy are far more dangerous than any theoretical risks and can create severe morbidity and mortality for the pregnant person and the fetus.
—Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for morbidity
Cite this Entry
“Morbidity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/morbidity. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
morbidity
noun
mor·bid·i·ty
mȯr-ˈbid-ət-ē
plural morbidities
1
: the quality or state of being morbid
2
: the rate at which a disease occurs in a group of individuals
Medical Definition
morbidity
noun
mor·bid·i·ty
mȯr-ˈbid-ət-ē
plural morbidities
1
: a diseased state or symptom : ill health
Parasitic protozoans and helminths represent two major groups of infectious agents that are responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality in human and animal populations.—Adel A. F. Mahmoud, Nature
Adel A. F. Mahmoud, Nature
also
: a complication or undesirable side effect following surgery or medical treatment
Because laryngectomy results in substantial functional morbidity, including the loss of the natural voice … alternative forms of treatment have been developed. —The New England Journal of Medicine
The New England Journal of Medicine 2
: the incidence of disease : the rate of illness (as in a specified population or group)
Because the young lack immune capability, the morbidity of viral upper respiratory diseases often reaches 100 percent of kittens in a litter or household.—Margaret Reister, Cat Fancy
Margaret Reister, Cat Fancy
also
: the incidence of complications or undesirable side effects following surgery or medical treatment
… radical prostatectomy in this setting … is associated with a very high morbidity. —Phillip W. Kantoff, Scientific American Medicine
compare mortality sense 2
Phillip W. Kantoff, Scientific American Medicine Love words? Need even more definitions?
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