symptom
C1Neutral to formal; common in medical, technical, and analytical contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A physical or mental feature indicating a condition of disease, particularly as perceived by the patient.
Any sign or indication of a broader, often undesirable, situation or problem.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Core medical meaning involves subjective patient experience (e.g., pain, fatigue). Distinct from 'sign', which is objective and observable by a clinician. Extended use relates to observable indicators of systemic issues.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Slightly more frequent in UK medical discourse; 'symptomology' is a rare variant of 'symptomatology', slightly more common in US medical texts.
Connotations
Neutral in both. In extended use, can imply an underlying, potentially serious cause.
Frequency
High frequency in both varieties within medical and metaphorical contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
symptom of [NP]present with [symptoms][NP] symptomVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A symptom of the times”
- “Treat the symptom, not the cause”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
High employee turnover is a symptom of poor management.
Academic
Increased atmospheric CO2 is a key symptom of anthropogenic climate change.
Everyday
A runny nose is a common symptom of a cold.
Technical
The patient presented with symptoms consistent with gastritis, including epigastric pain and nausea.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The disease first symptomed as a persistent cough.
American English
- The condition symptomed with acute joint pain.
adverb
British English
- The rash appeared symptomatically after the fever subsided.
American English
- The disease progresses symptomatically in most patients.
adjective
British English
- Symptomatic treatment aims to relieve discomfort without addressing the cause.
American English
- Her fever was symptomatic of a more serious infection.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He had all the symptoms of a cold.
- One symptom of the illness is a high temperature.
- Persistent headaches can be a symptom of stress or eye strain.
- The recent political unrest is merely a symptom of the deeper socioeconomic inequalities plaguing the nation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SYPtom' sounds like 'SIP-tum' – you might SIP tea to soothe a sore throat, which is a SYMPTOM of illness.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROBLEMS ARE DISEASES (e.g., 'symptoms of a failing economy').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not 'симптом' (this is a direct cognate and correct). Trap: confusing 'симптом' with 'признак' (sign) or 'синдром' (syndrome).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'symptom' for an objective clinical measurement (e.g., 'A fever is a symptom' – debatable, better: 'Feeling feverish is a symptom; a measured high temperature is a sign.').
- Incorrect: 'the symptom for flu', correct: 'a symptom of flu'.
Practice
Quiz
In its extended, non-medical use, 'symptom' most closely means:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A symptom is subjective and reported by the patient (e.g., pain, dizziness). A sign is objective and can be observed or measured by others (e.g., rash, fever, high blood pressure).
Rarely. Its core semantics are linked to disease or problems. A 'symptom of recovery' is possible but still frames recovery as an antidote to an illness.
Always 'symptoms of' (e.g., symptoms of diabetes). 'Symptoms for' is incorrect.
Symptomatology or clinical presentation.
Collections
Part of a collection
Health and Body
A2 · 48 words · Talking about health, illness and medical care.
Health and Wellness
B1 · 49 words · Physical and mental health vocabulary.
Explore