disease

American  

[dih-zeez] / dɪˈziz /

noun

1. a disordered or incorrectly functioning organ, part, structure, or system of the body resulting from the effect of genetic or developmental errors, infection, poisons, nutritional deficiency or imbalance, toxicity, or unfavorable environmental factors; illness; sickness; ailment.

   Synonyms:

   malady, disorder, infirmity, indisposition, distemper, derangement, complaint, morbidity

   Antonyms:

   health

2. any abnormal condition in a plant that interferes with its vital physiological processes, caused by pathogenic microorganisms, parasites, unfavorable environmental, genetic, or nutritional factors, etc.

3. any harmful, depraved, or morbid condition, as of the mind or society.

   His fascination with executions is a disease.

4. decomposition of a material under special circumstances.

   tin disease.

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verb (used with object)

diseased, diseasing

1. to affect with disease; make ill.

   Antonyms:

   cure

disease British  

/ dɪˈziːz /

noun

1. any impairment of normal physiological function affecting all or part of an organism, esp a specific pathological change caused by infection, stress, etc, producing characteristic symptoms; illness or sickness in general

2. a corresponding condition in plants

3. any situation or condition likened to this

   the disease of materialism

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Other Word Forms

• diseasedly
  adverb
• diseasedness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of disease

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English disese, from Anglo-French dese(a)se, disaise; dis- ¹ + ease

Explanation

A disease is a health condition that has a specific set of symptoms and traits — such as malaria or heart disease. Disease is not always about the human body being sick. Plants and animals are often the victims of disease. People also use the word disease in a more figurative sense to illustrate just how bad or damaging a negative influence can be — like the disease of greed among capitalists or the disease of plagiarism among college students.

Example Sentences

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a “level 2” warning, saying that people should practice enhanced precautions.

From MarketWatch • May 17, 2026

The individual’s health is being monitored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as British health officials as the islands are a British Overseas Territory.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

Hewlett said that the unit would be working with its U.S. public health partners, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to determine if and when each patient could be released.

From Slate • May 14, 2026

In an effort to preserve space at the facility in Nebraska, some passengers were flown to Atlanta, including the passenger who displayed mild symptoms, said Brendan Jackson of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

From BBC • May 11, 2026

It isn’t long after I submit my new work for the contest that I get a fever and it’s clear my Merrick’s Disease is getting worse.

From "Landscape with Invisible Hand" by M.T. Anderson

Related Words

• Cancer
• bug
• condition
• contamination
• defect
• disorder
• epidemic
• fever
• flu
• illness
• infection
• inflammation
• malady
• plague
• sickness
• stroke
• syndrome
• virus