irritation

American  

[ir-i-tay-shuhn] / ˌɪr ɪˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

• irritations
  plural

1. the act of irritating or the state of being irritated.

2. something that irritates.

3. Physiology, Pathology.

   1. the bringing of a bodily part or organ to an abnormally excited or sensitive condition.

   2. the condition itself.

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irritation British  

/ ˌɪrɪˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. something that irritates

2. the act of irritating or the condition of being irritated

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• irritative
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• irritations
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of irritation

First recorded in 1580–90, irritation is from the Latin word irrītātiōn- (stem of irrītātiō ). See irritate, -ion

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Explanation

An irritation is a situation or action that annoys someone — emotionally or physically. Your off-key singing in the car might be an irritation to the driver, or that poison ivy could be an irritation as well. It's an irritation when you're bothering someone else, and it's also irritation when you're the one feeling irked: "My irritation increased the longer the train sat there, unmoving, with no explanation." The earliest meaning of this word was more physical, a "sore or swollen spot," from the Latin root word irritare, "excite or provoke."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

irritation irritations

But Garrett was a limited participant in training camp and preseason workouts because of knee irritation.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2026

There’s no harm in that per se, but you’ll have to forgive my irritation with Sudeikis, Lawrence, Hunt and fellow executive producer and showrunner Joe Kelly’s clumsiness with the team’s most complicated working relationship.

From Salon ● Sep. 10, 2026

There was no sign of discomfort or irritation as he sat and spoke.

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026

Almost since its 1882 inception—Gaudí inherited the project a year later from the neo-Gothically inclined Francisco de Paula del Villar—the world’s longest-running construction project has been an object of irritation, admiration and parody.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

The brand flies buzzed in irritation, and a few peeled off from the sky god’s head like wet leaves and fluttered weakly to the ground.

From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia

Mangia said that healthcare providers saw residents with mostly respiratory issues, but that many of the residents were also exhibiting rashes and skin irritations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

None of these people is real, but the irritations they represent – NIMBYism, narcissism and the compulsion to destroy others to build ourselves up – are quite familiar.

From Salon ● Jul. 17, 2026

Smishing has become one of those quotidian irritations of modern life, and for some people, baiting the sender can feel like a tiny act of revenge—or just an opportunity for amusement.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

About two hours later, it said rounds were fired nearby that saw smoke enter the camp, causing 15 peacekeepers to suffer skin irritations and gastrointestinal reactions.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2024

You are, as they say, stuck with it and have leisure to feel all its peculiar irritations and discomforts.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

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Related Words

• inflammation
• irritability
• soreness
• tenderness

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