symptom

American  

[simp-tuhm] / ˈsɪmp təm /

noun

• symptoms
  plural

1. any phenomenon or circumstance accompanying something and serving as evidence of it.

2. a sign or indication of something.

   Synonyms:

   mark, token, signal

3. Pathology. a phenomenon that arises from and accompanies a particular disease or disorder and serves as an indication of it.

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symptom British  

/ ˈsɪmptəm /

noun

1. med any sensation or change in bodily function experienced by a patient that is associated with a particular disease Compare sign

2. any phenomenon or circumstance accompanying something and regarded as evidence of its existence; indication

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symptom Scientific  

/ sĭm′təm /

1. A subjective indication of a disorder or disease, such as pain, nausea or weakness. Symptoms may be accompanied by objective signs of disease such as abnormal laboratory test results or findings during a physical examination.

2. Compare sign

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• presymptom
  noun
• symptomless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• symptoms
  plural

Etymology

Origin of symptom

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin symptōma < Greek sýmptōma occurrence, that which falls together with something, equivalent to sym- sym- + ptō- (variant stem of píptein to fall) + -ma noun suffix of result

Explanation

A symptom is the result or byproduct of something else—specifically, the result we use to prove that that other thing exists. Simple example: a cough is a symptom of a cold. We know we have a cold because we have the symptom, a cough. Don't confuse the symptom with the cause. Even when the symptom is worse than the cause, don't be tempted to confuse them. Fever, sneezing, achiness: all of these are symptom of a cold. But they are not the cold. They are symptoms of it. Relationship experts argue over whether "cheating” is the cause of unhappiness or the symptom. In other words, do people think about breaking up because of cheating, or do they cheat because they're thinking about breaking up.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

symptom symptoms

For everyone in between those ages, it’s not until a symptom appears that more advanced testing is usually made available.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026

In other words, the videos may be less of a cause of this procrastination, and more a symptom of it.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026

The Kelvin wave is essentially both a cause and a symptom of El Nino, said Amaya, and originates in waters near Indonesia when trade winds die down.

From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026

Rather than understanding dissociation as a symptom of disordered eating, researchers increasingly consider how it may both emerge from and help maintain these patterns.

From Slate ● Sep. 23, 2026

Never once did the dogs exhibit any symptom of uneasiness, and even when we returned to the chapel they frisked about as though they had been rabbit-hunting in a summer wood.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

Ebola spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person who has developed symptoms, or through contaminated materials.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

These differences were also associated with particular symptoms.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 9, 2026

Her early symptoms began in 2008 during her Taking Chances World Tour, when she experienced difficulty controlling her voice despite doctors saying her vocal cords appeared normal, she shared with Vogue in 2024.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026

Could out-of-whack cortisol levels be to blame for all the symptoms I assumed were the basic hallmarks of living as an adult in 2026?

From Slate ● Oct. 9, 2026

Mr. Jacobs spoke like a doctor listing routine symptoms, and Moss shuddered.

From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro

Related Words

• manifestation
• syndrome