morbidity

American  

[mawr-bid-i-tee] / mɔrˈbɪd ɪ ti /

noun

1. a morbid state or quality.

2. the proportion of sickness or of a specific disease in a geographical locality.

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morbidity British  

/ mɔːˈbɪdɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state of being morbid

2. Also: morbidity rate.  the relative incidence of a particular disease in a specific locality

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Usage

What’s the difference between morbidity and mortality? In a medical context, the word morbidity refers to the incidence or prevalence of a disease in a specific population or location (sometimes called the morbidity rate), while the word mortality refers to relative frequency of deaths in a specific population or location (sometimes called the mortality rate). The related word cormorbidity is used in medical contexts to refer to the state of having multiple medical conditions at the same time. In this context, morbidity relates to sickness, while mortality relates to death. Both morbidity and mortality are also used in nontechnical ways. Morbidity is the noun form of the adjective morbid, which most commonly means excessively gloomy or having an unusual interest in dark subjects, like death. Morbidity, then, can be used to refer to the quality of having this interest, as in Her latest novel lacks the morbidity of her earlier works. Mortality, on the other hand, most commonly refers to the state or condition of being subject to death, as in Humans are aware of their own mortality. The opposite of this is immortality—unending life. Here’s an example of morbidity and mortality used correctly in the same sentence. Example: Studies show that while the morbidity in the region remains quite high, the mortality rate from the disease has continued to drop. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between morbidity and mortality.

Etymology

Origin of morbidity

First recorded in 1715–25; morbid + -ity

Explanation

Morbidity is the state or quality of being unhealthful, overly somber, or unwholesomely gloomy. Some opposites of morbidity are cheerfulness and optimism. The word morbidity comes from the word morbid, which means "characteristic of or caused by disease." The morbidity of a disease is the number of cases that occur in a specified population. For example, the morbidity rates for polio plummeted in the 20th century. Morbidity is also a state of mind or a quality that is focused on death, disease, and gloom. The literary works of Edgar Allan Poe are known for their morbidity.

Example Sentences

A report published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report in October noted that flu vaccination rates have declined in other countries, including in South America, where they were below pre-pandemic norms.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2025

The findings appear in the agency’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

From Salon • Oct. 10, 2024

An analysis published in the 26 May Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report looked at people in seven states since the bivalent booster became available in September 2022.

From Science Magazine • Sep. 8, 2023

But CDC officials have said in-depth rural health initiatives that require collaborations across the CDC — like the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report rural health series — could become more common practice at the agency.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 21, 2023

Morbidity has declined noticeably, and declines in the overall death rate and in the infant mortality rate have resulted in increased life expectancy.

From Area Handbook for Bulgaria by Baluyut, Violeta D.

Related Words

• anguish
• bitterness
• despair
• discouragement
• doldrums
• foreboding
• grief
• horror
• malaise
• misery
• pessimism
• sadness
• sorrow
• weariness
• woe