ailment
B2Neutral to formal. Slightly more formal than 'illness' or 'problem' in some everyday contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A minor, persistent, or chronic illness, typically not life-threatening.
Used more broadly to refer to any minor affliction, discomfort, or problem, including metaphorical issues in systems or organizations.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a condition that is bothersome or causes discomfort over time, but is not severe. Carries a connotation of being a persistent nuisance rather than a critical medical emergency.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. Slightly more common in formal medical contexts or patient advice literature in British English.
Connotations
In both varieties, connotes a minor, chronic, or nagging condition.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
suffer from + ailmenttreat + (article) + ailmentan ailment + affecting + [body part/organ/system]an ailment + of + [body part]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Every ailment has its cure. (Proverb)”
- “To doctor an ailment.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically: 'The company suffered from the familiar ailment of poor cash flow.'
Academic
Used in medical, health, and psychological literature to describe non-severe conditions.
Everyday
Common when discussing minor health issues: 'I've got a few minor ailments to discuss with the doctor.'
Technical
Used in medicine and pharmacy, often distinguishing minor ailments (self-treatable) from major diseases.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The old car is ailing, but its main ailment is a faulty gearbox.
American English
- What ails the team isn't talent; it's a leadership ailment.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A (No direct adjectival form. 'Ailing' is the related adjective).
American English
- N/A (No direct adjectival form. 'Ailing' is the related adjective).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She has a minor ailment.
- The medicine is for small ailments.
- He went to the pharmacy to get something for his common ailment.
- Stress can cause various minor ailments.
- Despite a persistent respiratory ailment, she managed to complete the marathon.
- The doctor reassured him that the ailment was treatable with simple lifestyle changes.
- The historian argued that the political ailment of factionalism plagued the nation's early years.
- Modern life, with its sedentary habits, has given rise to a host of new psychosomatic ailments.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'An AILMENT AILS you.' It's something that causes you minor, persistent ail.
Conceptual Metaphor
HEALTH IS A JOURNEY / PROBLEM IS A BURDEN. An ailment is a 'hitch' or 'snag' on the journey of health, or a small burden one carries.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'боль' (pain) or 'болезнь' (disease/illness). 'Ailment' is less severe than 'болезнь'. Closer to 'недомогание', 'расстройство' (minor), or 'хвороба' (folk).
Common Mistakes
- Using it for serious diseases (e.g., 'He died from a heart ailment' sounds downplayed). Overusing in place of more specific terms like 'infection' or 'injury'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the use of 'ailment' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A disease is often more serious, specific, and has a known pathological cause. An ailment is generally minor, less specific, and sometimes vague in origin.
Yes, but carefully. It can describe minor or non-clinical mental discomfort (e.g., 'a vague ailment of the spirit'), but it risks downplaying serious mental illnesses like clinical depression.
They are often synonyms in medical contexts ('a gastric complaint/ailment'). 'Complaint' is more neutral and patient-focused (what the patient complains of), while 'ailment' can sound slightly more descriptive of the condition itself.
Yes. You can have 'an ailment', 'several ailments', or 'many common ailments'.