radiation sickness

American  

noun

Pathology.

1. sickness caused by irradiation with x-rays or other nuclear radiation as a result of therapeutic treatment, accidental exposure, or a nuclear bomb explosion and characterized by nausea, vomiting, headache, cramps, diarrhea, loss of hair and teeth, destruction of white blood cells, and prolonged hemorrhage.

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radiation sickness British  

noun

1. pathol illness caused by overexposure of the body or a part of the body to ionizing radiations from radioactive material or X-rays. It is characterized by vomiting, diarrhoea, and in severe cases by sterility and cancer

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Etymology

Origin of radiation sickness

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

He says they found another colleague standing on one of the turbines, apparently unhurt but vomiting - a sign of radiation sickness.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

“It’s a big relief to know that no one was hurt by radiation sickness in the process of recovering it,” Barger said.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 19, 2023

Officials with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works are offering $1,000 for the return of a gauge that, if damaged, can cause radiation sickness.

From Washington Times • Dec. 16, 2023

On the same day as his diary entry about inviting reporters, he had a phone conversation with a fellow officer at Oak Ridge about Japanese radio broadcasts reporting cases of radiation sickness.

From Slate • Aug. 8, 2023

In high enough doses, radiation sickness almost always causes nausea, headaches, and a general feeling of illness that can last anywhere from a few hours to two days.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland