1
a
b
: an unhealthy condition of body or mind
2
Synonyms
Examples of illness in a Sentence
Her body was not able to defend itself against illness.
Hundreds of soldiers died from illness and hunger.
He showed no signs of illness.
Scientists have not yet found a cure for this illness.
cancer, diabetes, and other illnesses
She died at the age of 60 after a brief illness.
Recent Examples on the Web
Missing doctor appointments, forgetting to take medications, and struggling to navigate the health-care system can make existing illnesses worse.
—
Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2025
Young kids with long COVID more likely to have headaches while teens struggle with fatigue: Study
Long COVID most often occurs in people who had severe illness, but anyone can develop the condition, according to the CDC.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 3 Feb. 2025
The Oilers were in tough entering the game as they were forced to go without top-pairing defenceman Mattias Ekholm due to illness.
—Daniel Nugent-Bowman, The Athletic, 2 Feb. 2025
The child patient had finished treatment for an illness at Shriners Children's Hospital in Philadelphia and was returning to her home country, according to the hospital.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 1 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for illness 
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Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2025
Young kids with long COVID more likely to have headaches while teens struggle with fatigue: Study
Long COVID most often occurs in people who had severe illness, but anyone can develop the condition, according to the CDC.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 3 Feb. 2025
The Oilers were in tough entering the game as they were forced to go without top-pairing defenceman Mattias Ekholm due to illness.
—Daniel Nugent-Bowman, The Athletic, 2 Feb. 2025
The child patient had finished treatment for an illness at Shriners Children's Hospital in Philadelphia and was returning to her home country, according to the hospital.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 1 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for illness
Dictionary Entries Near illness
Cite this Entry
“Illness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/illness. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
illness
noun
ill·ness
ˈil-nəs 
1
: an unhealthy condition of body or mind
2
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