Word
illness
Phoneticsill·ness, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɪɫnəs/
UK/ˈɪlnəs/
Definitions
01a specific disease
A2 · Elementary Countable noun Medicine
n. a specific disease or period of being sick.
n. a specific instance of disease or a period of sickness. Countable in this sense.
“She missed two weeks of school because of a sudden illness.”
“The doctor struggled to diagnose the mysterious illness that had affected several passengers during the long flight.”
Usage
Often used with adjectives like 'serious', 'minor', or 'chronic'.
Pitfall
He has a long illness.
He has a chronic illness.
While 'long' is understandable, 'chronic' or 'prolonged' are the standard adjectives for an illness that lasts a long time.
02the state of being sick
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun Medicine
n. the general state of being unwell or having poor health.
n. the general condition of being unhealthy or diseased. Uncountable in this abstract sense.
Español:enfermedad
“The company provides insurance to help workers during times of illness.”
“Public health initiatives aim to reduce the burden of illness in urban populations through better sanitation and vaccination programmes.”
Usage
Often used in formal contexts regarding public health or statistics.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “illness” in context.
Etymology
From ill + -ness.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Domains
- 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.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL 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: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/illness
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0