What does "symptom" mean?

1. (medical sign) a change in your body or mind that shows you are ill, such as a cough or a fever. 2. (sign of a problem) a sign that a bad situation or a larger problem exists.

How do you use "symptom"?

Often used with the preposition 'of' to name the specific illness.

symptom

US //ˈsɪmptəm// UK //sˈɪmptəm// symp·tom

1 medical sign (n.)
B1 Intermediate Medicine

a change in your body or mind that shows you are ill, such as a cough or a fever.

a physical or mental manifestation of a disease or disorder as perceived by the patient.

Example

A high temperature and a dry cough are common symptoms of the flu.

Example

The patient presented with several neurological symptoms, including persistent dizziness and a loss of coordination in the left hand.

Usage

Often used with the preposition 'of' to name the specific illness.
2 sign of a problem (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

a sign that a bad situation or a larger problem exists.

an indicator or characteristic sign of an underlying undesirable condition or social trend.

Example

The messy office was just a symptom of his busy and stressful life.

Example

Economists argue that the rising cost of housing is merely a symptom of a much deeper structural imbalance in the national economy.

Origin

From Ancient Greek σύμπτωμα (súmptōma, “a happening, accident, symptom of disease”), from stem of συμπίπτω (sumpíptō, “Ι befall”), from συν- (sun-, “together”) + πίπτω (píptō, “to fall”).