ailment

American  

[eyl-muhnt] / ˈeɪl mənt /

noun

1. a physical disorder or illness, especially of a minor or chronic nature.

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ailment British  

/ ˈeɪlmənt /

noun

1. a slight but often persistent illness

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Etymology

Origin of ailment

First recorded in 1700–10; ail + -ment

Example Sentences

Marcus had suffered from various ailments since childhood, and life in the north made these worse.

From The Wall Street Journal

Because older adults are more likely to experience adverse medical conditions, their primary-care providers may focus on diagnosing ailments such as diabetes, heart disease or thyroid issues.

From MarketWatch

Rather than seek more FDA approvals, it funded studies purportedly proving its efficacy for more common ailments such as anxiety, migraines and chronic nerve pain.

From The Wall Street Journal

There are currently hundreds of biotechnology companies looking to solve all sorts of ailments.

From Barron's

Increasingly, beauty and health brands are reframing formerly taboo ailments and issues, using them as a way to build community.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• ache
• condition
• disease
• disorder
• flu
• illness
• malady
• syndrome