sickness
B2Neutral, but slightly more formal than 'illness' in everyday speech.
Definition
Meaning
The state of being ill; a specific disease or ailment.
The feeling of nausea or the need to vomit. A feeling of strong dislike or revulsion, especially of a moral or psychological nature (e.g., 'sick of society').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often used for more severe or prolonged conditions than 'illness'. Can be ambiguous between meaning 'nausea' or 'disease' without context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'sickness' is commonly used to mean nausea/vomiting ('travel sickness', 'feeling sick'). In the US, this meaning exists but 'nausea' is more frequent. In the US, 'sickness' can sound slightly more serious or dated than 'illness' for disease.
Connotations
UK: Strongly associated with nausea/vomiting in compounds. US: Can imply a more chronic or systemic condition.
Frequency
More frequent in UK English, especially in compounds and bureaucratic/official language (e.g., 'sickness benefit').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
suffer from (a) sicknessbe absent because of/with sicknessa sickness that + verbsickness among + groupVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “sickness and health (from wedding vows)”
- “a sickness unto death (philosophical/literary)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'Please submit a doctor's note for any sickness absence longer than three days.'
Academic
'The study examined the social determinants of chronic sickness in urban populations.'
Everyday
'I had to pull over because a sudden wave of sickness came over me.'
Technical
'Decompression sickness, also known as 'the bends', is a risk for divers.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A for 'sickness' as a verb.
American English
- N/A for 'sickness' as a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A for 'sickness' as an adverb.
American English
- N/A for 'sickness' as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- N/A for 'sickness' as an adjective.
American English
- N/A for 'sickness' as an adjective.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She missed school because of sickness.
- I don't like boats; they give me travel sickness.
- The company offers full pay for the first week of sickness.
- A mysterious sickness spread through the village.
- His prolonged sickness forced him to take early retirement.
- She was overwhelmed by a sudden sickness when she saw the accident.
- The sickness at the heart of their corrupt political system was finally exposed.
- Altitude sickness can be prevented by gradual ascent and proper acclimatisation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SICK NEST – a nest where you go to rest when you feel sick (sickness).
Conceptual Metaphor
SICKNESS IS AN UNWANTED INVADER / SICKNESS IS A BURDEN.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'sickness' for every minor 'болезнь'. Use 'illness' or 'cold' for milder cases. Remember 'тошнота' is specifically 'nausea', which is one meaning of 'sickness'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'sickness' as a countable noun for a common cold ('I have a sickness' sounds severe). Confusing 'sick' (adj) with 'sickness' (noun) in structures like 'I feel a sickness' (awkward).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'sickness' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Sickness' often implies a more specific condition or symptom (like vomiting) and can sound more serious or formal. 'Illness' is a broader, more neutral term for poor health.
Yes, especially in British English. 'I feel sickness' means 'I feel like I'm going to be sick/vomit'. The noun 'nausea' is more clinical.
Yes, but it's less common for everyday 'illness' and often used in fixed terms (e.g., 'morning sickness', 'motion sickness') or for serious/public health contexts.
Yes, primarily. 'Sick' describes the state (feeling sick), while 'sickness' is the condition or instance (a period of sickness).