noun
ailment
AYL-muhnt
noun
1
An illness, especially a minor or ongoing one.
"The clinic treats everything from colds to chronic ailments."
"His main ailment was a persistent back problem."
How to Use Ailment
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA health problem or illness, often used for something ongoing rather than a sudden, serious disease.
Common pairings
common ailment
minor ailment
chronic ailment
Word Forms
ailments plural
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The clinic treats everything from colds to chronic _____.
Etymology
From the verb "ail" (to trouble or afflict) plus the noun-forming suffix "-ment."