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

Explanation

If you've got a rash or a persistent cough, you can call that an ailment. Some other common ailments are allergies or chronic headaches. They can be a real pain. Literally. The word ailment comes from the Old English eglan meaning "to trouble, plague, afflict," and the suffix -ment from the Latin mentum, which when added to the end of word describing an action turns that word into the result of that action. So the result of something that troubles, plagues or afflicts you is an ailment — a pain or discomfort that just doesn't seem to go away.

Example Sentences

The FDA also requires that a drug be tested for its ability to treat a named ailment rather than something more general like “aging.”

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026

Manufacturers are prohibited from making claims about treating or preventing disease, but influencers have sold the idea that buying the right products can fend off or cure almost any ailment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

Glanville had been struggling for the last few years with a mysterious ailment that caused recurring facial swelling, speech impairment and the loss of teeth, leaving her reluctant to go out in public.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2026

As you point out, sometimes the cure can be worse than the ailment.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 8, 2025

While the precise nature of his ailment was kept secret, Alexei continued to be a pale, sickly boy.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Related Words

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