mountain sickness: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Technical/Medical, but understood in general contexts.
Quick answer
What does “mountain sickness” mean?
A pathological condition caused by ascent to high altitude, characterized primarily by headache, nausea, fatigue, and dizziness due to lower oxygen levels (hypoxia).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A pathological condition caused by ascent to high altitude, characterized primarily by headache, nausea, fatigue, and dizziness due to lower oxygen levels (hypoxia).
Often used metaphorically to describe a feeling of being overwhelmed, disoriented, or nauseated by a sudden, steep increase in responsibility, complexity, or scale of a task.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. 'Altitude sickness' is equally common in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral and descriptive in both.
Frequency
'Altitude sickness' may be marginally more frequent in American English, but both terms are standard.
Grammar
How to Use “mountain sickness” in a Sentence
to have mountain sicknessto suffer from mountain sicknessto be afflicted with mountain sicknessto develop mountain sicknessto prevent mountain sicknessVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mountain sickness” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She began to mountain-sick at around 3,500 metres.
- Many climbers mountain-sick if they ascend too rapidly.
American English
- He mountain-sicked on the first night at base camp.
- You don't want to mountain-sick before summit day.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used literally. Metaphorically: 'The team experienced a kind of corporate mountain sickness when faced with the merger.'
Academic
Common in medical, physiological, and sports science texts discussing hypoxic environments and their effects on the human body.
Everyday
Used by travellers, hikers, and skiers. 'We had to descend because Jenny got mountain sickness.'
Technical
Precise term in medicine and登山医学, with classifications (mild, moderate, severe AMS) and distinct protocols for HAPE and HACE.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mountain sickness”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mountain sickness”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mountain sickness”
- Confusing it with motion sickness. | Using 'mountain disease' (incorrect). | Spelling: 'mountain-sickness' (hyphen is less common).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The primary treatment is descent to a lower altitude. Rest, hydration, and pain relief for headaches can help mild symptoms.
Commercial aircraft cabins are pressurised, typically to an altitude of 1,800-2,400 metres. It's unlikely but possible for very sensitive individuals to experience mild symptoms on long flights.
In common usage, yes. 'Altitude sickness' is a more general term, while 'mountain sickness' specifies the environment. They are used interchangeably.
Anyone ascending too quickly to altitudes above 2,500 metres is at risk. Individual susceptibility varies greatly and is not reliably linked to fitness.
A pathological condition caused by ascent to high altitude, characterized primarily by headache, nausea, fatigue, and dizziness due to lower oxygen levels (hypoxia).
Mountain sickness is usually technical/medical, but understood in general contexts. in register.
Mountain sickness: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmaʊn.tɪn ˌsɪk.nəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmaʊn.tən ˌsɪk.nəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To hit the wall (at altitude)”
- “Feeling the height”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a sick MOUNTAIN – it's got a headache and feels nauseous because it's too high up.
Conceptual Metaphor
HIGH ALTITUDE IS A SICKENING FORCE / ACHIEVING HEIGHT IS A PHYSICAL ASSAULT.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary cause of mountain sickness?