sick building syndrome: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low to MediumFormal, Technical, Academic
Quick answer
What does “sick building syndrome” mean?
A medical condition where people in a building experience acute health or comfort issues that appear linked to time spent in that building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A medical condition where people in a building experience acute health or comfort issues that appear linked to time spent in that building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified.
It refers broadly to the set of non-specific symptoms (e.g., headaches, eye/nose/throat irritation, fatigue) attributed to poor indoor environmental quality in modern, energy-efficient buildings with sealed windows and complex HVAC systems, often exacerbated by pollutants from building materials, furnishings, or inadequate ventilation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term and its concept are identical in both varieties. Spelling and usage show no divergence.
Connotations
Carries the same connotations of modern workplace or residential building design flaws, corporate responsibility issues, and public health concerns in both cultures.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English media and occupational health literature, reflecting earlier widespread adoption of sealed, energy-efficient buildings, but the term is standard in both.
Grammar
How to Use “sick building syndrome” in a Sentence
[Building/Office] has/experiences/suffers from sick building syndrome.Sick building syndrome is caused/attributed to [poor ventilation/chemical pollutants].Employees/occupants reported symptoms consistent with sick building syndrome.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sick building syndrome” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The sick-building-syndrome report was concerning. (hyphenated attributive use, rare)
American English
- The sick building syndrome investigation concluded. (noun compound used attributively)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Discussed in HR and facilities management regarding employee health, productivity, and legal liability. E.g., 'We're renovating to address potential sick building syndrome complaints.'
Academic
Used in environmental science, public health, occupational medicine, and architecture journals. E.g., 'The study correlated VOC levels with reported sick building syndrome.'
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation unless someone is directly affected. May appear in news reports about workplace issues. E.g., 'Half the office is off with headaches; they think it's sick building syndrome.'
Technical
A defined term in occupational health (ICD-10 code T75.8), HVAC engineering, and building biology. Involves specific diagnostic criteria and measurement protocols for indoor pollutants.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sick building syndrome”
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Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sick building syndrome”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sick building syndrome”
- Using it as a plural (e.g., 'sick building syndromes'). It is an uncountable, singular concept for a condition.
- Misspelling as 'sick-building syndrome' (hyphenation is not standard).
- Confusing it with specific illnesses like Legionnaires' disease, which has a known bacterial cause.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a recognised condition in occupational and environmental medicine, but it is a diagnosis of exclusion—meaning other specific illnesses (like allergies or infections) must be ruled out first. It describes a collection of non-specific symptoms linked to a building environment.
Common causes include inadequate ventilation, chemical contaminants from indoor sources (e.g., VOCs from carpets, furniture), chemical contaminants from outdoor air intake, biological contaminants (mold, bacteria), and poor lighting or ergonomic design.
The 'cure' is typically environmental, not medical. It involves identifying and removing the source of pollution, improving ventilation and air filtration, and maintaining the HVAC system. Symptoms in occupants usually resolve once the building environment is improved.
Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is tied to a specific building; symptoms occur there and resolve elsewhere. MCS is a chronic condition where individuals report symptoms from exposure to low levels of various chemicals in multiple environments, not just one building. SBS is building-specific; MCS is person-specific.
A medical condition where people in a building experience acute health or comfort issues that appear linked to time spent in that building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified.
Sick building syndrome is usually formal, technical, academic in register.
Sick building syndrome: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɪk ˈbɪl.dɪŋ ˌsɪn.drəʊm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɪk ˈbɪl.dɪŋ ˌsɪn.droʊm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The building is making us sick. (informal paraphrase)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a building with a thermometer in its mouth, looking ill. The 'syndrome' is the set of symptoms its occupants 'catch' from it.
Conceptual Metaphor
A BUILDING IS A BODY (that can be healthy or sick). OCCUPANTS ARE PATIENTS (of the building).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary defining feature of sick building syndrome?