Meaning & use

ailment

noun·Everyday

A minor illness or physical problem, often one that is not serious or life-threatening.

See it in a sentence

The clinic treats common ailments like colds, sprains, and minor infections.

Grandpa keeps a running list of small ailments he loves to describe in detail.

A note on using this word

Ailment usually implies a mild or chronic condition rather than a severe or acute disease.

Words with a similar meaning

illnessmaladycomplaint

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

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