terminal illness

American  

[tur-muh-nl il-nis] / ˈtɜr mə nl ˈɪl nɪs /

Sometimes life-limiting illness

noun

1. a disease or condition that cannot be cured and will almost certainly lead to death.

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Etymology

Origin of terminal illness

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

I hope Mr. Sasse’s public and courageous reflections on his terminal illness will help to compel the FDA to overhaul its dysfunctional drug approval protocols for rare diseases and more broadly.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

This is generally considered to be a chronic condition rather than a terminal illness.

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026

This comes as MSPs in Scotland prepare to vote on their own assisted dying bill on Tuesday, that would allow mentally competent adults with a terminal illness to seek medical help to end their lives.

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026

This time her 343rd “charge” is a hapless 87-year old CEO oil tycoon K. J. Boone unwilling to pass over from the “baffling country” of terminal illness toward its “inevitable occurrence.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 26, 2026

Like a person with a terminal illness, I was eager to ignore the immediate symptoms, hoping for a last-minute cure.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides