Ailments
/ˈeɪlmənts/
nounBeginnerCommonMedical
Meaning
Question
Definitions
1
A physical disorder or illness; a disease.
/ˈeɪlmənts/
nounnegativeBeginner
Medical
An illness or disease
She suffered from various ailments throughout her life.
💡 Simply: Sickness or disease.
More Examples
2
The clinic specializes in treating common childhood ailments.
How It's Used
Medical
"The doctor carefully examined the patient's ailments."
From Middle English *eilment, from Old French *aillment, from *aillier ‘to ail’.
The word 'ailment' has been used in similar contexts for centuries, often appearing in medical texts and personal accounts of illness.
Memory tip
Think of 'ail' meaning to suffer, so ailments are things that make you suffer.
Practice
Base: ailment
ailmetsailmints
Usage
20%Spoken
80%Written