Word
ailment
Phoneticsail·ment, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈeɪɫmənt/
UK/ˈeɪlmənt/
Definition
n. a medical problem or a physical illness. It is a slightly formal word that you might hear in a doctor's office or in a story.
n. a medical condition or physical illness. Often used in a literary or formal context to describe a specific health issue.
Examples
“The doctor treated the patient's minor ailment with rest.”
“While the athlete's injury was serious, his previous ailments were nothing more than common colds.”
“The protagonist's journey is marked by a series of minor ailments that serve as metaphors for his growing sense of isolation and physical decay.”
Examples
simple
“The doctor treated the patient's minor ailment with rest.”
contextual
“While the athlete's injury was serious, his previous ailments were nothing more than common colds.”
complex
“The protagonist's journey is marked by a series of minor ailments that serve as metaphors for his growing sense of isolation and physical decay.”
Real-World Examples
“It is the region’s worst haze episode since 2015, when fires in Indonesia exposed tens of millions of people to toxic smoke and caused more than 500,000 people to suffer respiratory ailments.” “Often, mental health concerns accompany or supersede physical ailments.” Etymology
From ail + -ment.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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