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

Example Sentences

Two whose illness started in late 2025 said they drank Raw Farm’s raw milk, and five who fell sick in 2026 had eaten the company’s raw cheddar.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

But Spencer says his business is being squeezed from every angle – as well as minimum wage, he has had increases in business rates, national insurance, and statutory sick pay.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Australia's ban has been widely hailed as a godsend for parents sick of seeing children glued to their phones.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

“Or when you notice flexibility—they were supposed to go to a friend’s house and someone got sick, but they pivoted nicely. You can say, ‘I saw you rebounded really well.’”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

Only he seemed unaware of it as he hobbled along the halls of his home, bringing comfort and counsel to the sick people in his care.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom