Sickness
'sɪknəs
Definitions
3 meaningsThe state of being ill; a disease or illness.
'sɪknəs
A state of being ill.
She called in sick due to a sudden sickness.
💡 Simply: Sickness is when your body isn't feeling well, like when you have a cold or the flu. It's the opposite of being healthy and strong!
👶 For kids: When your body doesn't feel good, like when you have a tummy ache or a cough. It's not feeling well!
More Examples
The doctor diagnosed the sickness as the flu.
The long sea voyage caused a sickness that lasted for days.
How It's Used
"He was absent from work due to a prolonged sickness."
"The sickness spread quickly through the village."
A specific illness or disease.
'sɪknəs
A specific disease or illness.
He was diagnosed with a rare sickness.
💡 Simply: Sickness can also be the name of a specific bug or problem that makes you unwell, like the chickenpox or a cold.
👶 For kids: A special name for a time when you're not feeling good, like the flu!
More Examples
Many people suffered from the sickness during the epidemic.
The doctor is trying to find a cure for the sickness.
How It's Used
"Malaria is a serious sickness in many tropical regions."
"The Black Death was a devastating sickness that swept across Europe."
Nausea or the physical feeling of being ill, often induced by travel or food.
'sɪknəs
Nausea or the condition of being ill, especially due to motion.
He suffered from terrible sickness on the cruise.
💡 Simply: It can also mean feeling like you're going to throw up, especially if you're on a boat or a car ride, it is called motion sickness.
👶 For kids: Sometimes when you go on a car or boat ride and feel like your tummy is not feeling well that is sickness.
More Examples
The food gave her a bout of sickness.
The roller coaster ride triggered his sickness.
How It's Used
"The rough seas caused motion sickness."
"She was overcome with a sudden sickness after eating the meal."
Idioms & expressions
sick as a dog
Very ill.
"He was sick as a dog with the flu."
to call in sick
To inform one's employer or institution of one's illness and consequent inability to come to work or attend the event.
"She had to call in sick because she was down with the flu."
From Old English *seocnes*, from *seoc* (sick) + *-nes* (suffix denoting a state or condition). Related to Dutch *ziekte* and German *Krankheit*.
Used extensively in literature and historical documents to describe various ailments and diseases.