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.

---

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

---

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

---

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

By analysing biological samples alongside day-to-day symptom information, the team hopes to identify markers that could eventually help clinicians recognise problems sooner and tailor treatment more effectively.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

The findings could therefore provide a foundation for making deep brain stimulation more precisely tailored to an individual patient's brain network, particularly when existing DBS settings do not provide the desired level of symptom relief.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 12, 2026

So are emergency department visits for diarrhea, a common symptom of cyclosporiasis, the gastrointestinal illness caused by the parasite.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026

Existing treatments are decades-old stimulants and sedatives that target one symptom at a time, but Orzeyful and its competitor drugs are designed to treat the disease as a whole.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 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

"We have provided comprehensive information to all employees and encourage them to consult a doctor if they experience any symptoms."

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

But they also acknowledge several limitations, including that not all former NFL players who died during the study window were included, and that some family members may have inaccurately recalled or over-stated symptoms.

From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026

However, human infection is rare and typically only causes mild symptoms.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026

TikTok and Reddit channels discuss “Toxic Mold Syndrome,” a series of vague symptoms including sudden fits of anger and brain fog stemming from systemic mold in the body.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

Her pen clicked away against the clipboard as I recited the list of symptoms Fig had shown over the last week.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas

Related Words

• manifestation
• syndrome