sick

¹ American  

[sik] / sɪk /

adjective

sicker, sickest

1. affected with ill health, disease, or illness; ailing.

   She was sick with the flu for two weeks.

   Synonyms:

   indisposed, infirm

   Antonyms:

   healthy, hale, well

2. affected with nausea; inclined to vomit.

   If you feel sick, take a few deep breaths and wait for the feeling to pass.

   Synonyms:

   nauseated, nauseous

3. deeply affected with some unpleasant feeling, as of sorrow, disgust, or boredom.

   The suffering and torments of the wounded make me sick at heart.

   I never thought it would happen, but after two years of college I'm sick of parties.

4. mentally, morally, or emotionally deranged, corrupt, or unsound.

   Only someone with a sick mind would suggest such an immoral scheme.

   He made wild statements that made him seem sick.

5. dwelling on or obsessed with that which is gruesome, sadistic, ghoulish, or the like; morbid: sick jokes.

   a sick comedian;

   sick jokes.

6. of, relating to, or for use during ill health.

   He applied for sick benefits.

7. accompanied by or suggestive of ill health; sickly.

   a sick pallor;

   the sick smell of disinfectant in the corridors.

8. disgusted; chagrined.

   Such blatant hypocrisy makes me sick.

9. not in proper condition; impaired.

   My car is sick and I'm afraid it's going to cost a lot of money to repair.

10. Slang. great; amazing.

    The plot is boring but the special effects are sick!

11. Agriculture.

    1. failing to sustain adequate harvests of some crop, usually specified.

       a wheat-sick soil.

    2. containing harmful microorganisms.

       a sick field.

12. Now Rare: Sometimes Offensive. menstruating.

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noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. people in ill health collectively.

   We have a duty of care toward the sick.

idioms

1. sick to one's stomach, nauseated.

2. sick and tired, utterly weary; fed up.

   I'm sick and tired of working so hard!

3. sick as a dog. dog.

4. sick at one's stomach, nauseated.

5. call in sick, to notify one's place of employment that one will be absent from work because of illness.

   I'd rather not call in sick tomorrow, but I'm not sure I can drive like this.

sick ² American  

[sik] / sɪk /

verb (used with object)

1. sic.

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sick ¹ British  

/ sɪk /

adjective

1. inclined or likely to vomit

2. 1. suffering from ill health

   2. ( as collective noun; preceded by the )

      the sick

3. 1. of, relating to, or used by people who are unwell

      sick benefits

   2. ( in combination )

      sickroom

4. deeply affected with a mental or spiritual feeling akin to physical sickness

   sick at heart

5. mentally, psychologically, or spiritually disturbed

6. informal delighting in or catering for the macabre or sadistic; morbid

   sick humour

7. Also: sick and tired.  informal (often foll by of) disgusted or weary, esp because satiated

   I am sick of his everlasting laughter

8. (often foll by for) weary with longing; pining

   I am sick for my own country

9. pallid or sickly

10. not in working order

11. (of land) unfit for the adequate production of certain crops

12. slang to be outclassed

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noun

1. an informal word for vomit

sick ² British  

/ sɪk /

verb

1. a variant spelling of sic 2

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sick More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing sick

• call in sick
• get sick
• make one sick
• worried sick

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Related Words

See ill.

Other Word Forms

• sickish adjective

Etymology

Origin of sick

First recorded before 900; Middle English sek, sik, Old English sēoc; cognate with Dutch ziek, German siech, Old Norse sjūkr, Gothic siuks

Explanation

Sick describes someone who's not well, suffering from some kind of illness. You shouldn't go to school when you're sick. If you're sick in bed, you're ill. While sick usually refers to people with physical or mental illnesses, it can also be used to describe an object or system that isn't working right, like a sick economy. Sick can also mean that you're tired of something, like a song you have heard too many times — you're sick of it. Sick is also slang used to describe something that is visually impressive, like a sick hockey goal.

Example Sentences

Their thoughts instead turn to trusts and beneficiary designations for after-death instructions, and they focus heavily on the documents that come into play if you get sick, like power of attorney and a healthcare proxy.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

People who enter the water in those areas could become sick.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

During his briefing to the Police Commission on Tuesday, McDonnell said roughly 8% of the department’s employees are unavailable to work because they are on sick leave or other work restrictions.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

Tedros said the WHO had suspended medical evacuations of sick and wounded Palestinians from Gaza via Rafah to Egypt until further notice.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

She looked at me now, and her eyes were so full of pity I thought I might be sick.

From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff