invalidism

[in-vuh-li-diz-uhm]

noun

1. prolonged ill health.

invalidism

/ ˈɪnvəlɪˌdɪzəm /

noun

1. the state of being an invalid, esp by reason of ill health

2. a state of being abnormally preoccupied with one's physical health

Word History and Origins

Origin of invalidism¹

First recorded in 1785–95; invalid ¹ + -ism

Example Sentences

But though they offered unprecedented mobility, these wicker-and-wood chairs were seen as a sign of invalidism and dependence—and couldn’t have been more different from the modern wheelchairs that offer even more ways to move.

Read more on National Geographic

A shortened period of invalidism is fully as important in maintaining the numerical strength of an army as is the keeping up of a supply of fresh reinforcements.

Read more on Nature

Florence Nightingale and Elizabeth Barrett Browning used invalidism as a way to carve out time, space and mental freedom so that they could get on with reforming the Indian army and writing lyric verse respectively.

Read more on The Guardian

At twenty-one, long before ill-fitting dentures and self-imposed invalidism, my grandmother was something of a beauty.

Read more on Literature

She waited on her without complaint, but she managed subtly to extract from her the price of her invalidism.

Read more on Literature