Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for terminal illness. Search instead for underlying wellness.

terminal illness

American  
[tur-muh-nl il-nis] / ˈtɜr mə nl ˈɪl nɪs /
Sometimes life-limiting illness

noun

terminal illnesses plural
  1. a disease or condition that cannot be cured and will almost certainly lead to death.


Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of terminal illness

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Here’s another one: Ryusuke Hamaguchi, whose roving “Drive My Car” surprised everyone, is back with a sad-sounding movie about terminal illness, “All of a Sudden.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026

"In light of my terminal illness, that's not relevant anymore".

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

Jurisdictions that initially limit assisted suicide to terminal illness face pressure to expand access to chronic conditions or psychological suffering.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

This time her 343rd “charge” is a hapless 87-year old CEO oil tycoon K. J. Boone unwilling to pass over from the “baffling country” of terminal illness toward its “inevitable occurrence.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 26, 2026

I might have been diagnosed with a terminal illness.

From "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "terminal illness" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com