illness
0 antonyms and opposites of illness, grouped by meaning.
Noun — A disease or period of poor health.
How to use illness
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From ill + the noun-forming suffix -ness.
Full origin of illness →Frequently asked questions
What does “illness” mean?
The word “illness” means a disease or period of poor health. In plain terms, a sickness — either a specific disease or, more generally, being unwell.
How do you pronounce “illness”?
“Illness” is pronounced IHL-nuhs (/ˈɪl.nəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “illness” in a sentence?
Here is “illness” used in a sentence: “He took two weeks off work due to illness.”
What is another word for “illness”?
Words with a similar meaning to “illness” include sickness.
What part of speech is “illness”?
“Illness” is a noun.
Is “illness” a common word?
“Illness” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between illness and disease?
A disease is a specific, diagnosable medical condition with identifiable causes and signs, like diabetes or influenza. Illness is the personal, subjective experience of being unwell — how a person feels and functions. You can feel ill without a diagnosed disease and, occasionally, have a disease before feeling ill.
What is the difference between illness and sickness?
The two are close synonyms and often interchangeable. Illness is the general state of poor health. Sickness can carry the same meaning but sometimes points more to specific symptoms, such as nausea, or to being unfit for work or duty. In everyday use, the difference is slight.
What are the main types of illness?
Illnesses are grouped in several ways. They may be physical or mental; acute, meaning sudden and short-lived, or chronic, meaning long-lasting; and infectious, caused by germs that spread, or non-infectious, such as heart disease. Many conditions fall into more than one of these categories at once.
Is illness the opposite of health?
Broadly, yes — illness describes poor health, so it stands opposite to health and wellness. The relationship is a spectrum rather than a simple switch, though. A person can have a chronic illness yet still be relatively well day to day, managing their condition and living a full life.