Illness vs. Sickness — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 27, 2023
Illness often refers to a state of poor health or a specific ailment. Sickness is a general term denoting the presence of disease or ailment, often used interchangeably with illness.
Difference Between Illness and Sickness
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Key Differences
Illness is a term that primarily indicates a person's state of poor health or a particular condition affecting the body or mind. It's more specific, and can be used to describe both chronic and acute conditions. Sickness, on the other hand, generally refers to the state of being unwell, without specifying the exact problem. It encompasses a broad spectrum of conditions.
In many contexts, illness is used to denote a diagnosed condition or disorder. For example, someone might say, "He has an illness that requires medication." Sickness might be used in a more general or temporary sense. For instance, "She couldn't come to work due to sickness."
When someone refers to mental illness, they are specifically pointing towards conditions that affect the mind, such as depression or anxiety. Sickness doesn't usually carry this same connotation, though it isn't entirely exclusive from it. Saying "mental sickness" isn't as commonly used.
Both terms, illness and sickness, can also be used metaphorically. One might say, "The illness of greed affects many," or "The company suffered from a sickness of corruption." However, in medical contexts, the terms can often be used interchangeably.
In summary, while illness and sickness can often be used interchangeably in many contexts, illness tends to be more specific, whereas sickness is a broader, more general term.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A state of poor health or a specific ailment.
A general state of being unwell.
Usage in Context
More specific, indicating a diagnosed condition.
Broader, often indicating a temporary state.
Connotation
Can specifically refer to both physical and mental conditions.
Generally refers to physical unwellness.
Metaphorical Usage
Often used to describe societal or moral issues.
Used to describe broad issues or general malaise.
Interchangeability
Often used interchangeably with sickness but can be more specific.
Used interchangeably with illness in many cases.
Compare with Definitions
Illness
A condition affecting the body or mind.
He's been struggling with a mysterious illness for months.
Sickness
A general state of malaise or ailment.
There's a sickness going around the office.
Illness
A disorder or malfunction of the mind or body.
Mental illness can be as debilitating as physical illness.
Sickness
A particular malady or disease.
A mysterious sickness swept through the village.
Illness
A specific ailment or disease.
Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness.
Sickness
The state of being unwell.
He's home with a sickness today.
Illness
A state of being in poor health.
Her prolonged illness worried her family.
Sickness
An upset or derangement in one's health.
Morning sickness is common during early pregnancy.
Illness
A deviation from normal function or feeling.
His sudden illness took us all by surprise.
Sickness
The condition of being sick; illness.
Illness
A disease or period of sickness affecting the body or mind
I've never missed a day's work through illness
He died after a long illness
Sickness
A disease; a malady.
Illness
Poor health resulting from disease of body or mind; sickness.
Sickness
Nausea.
Illness
A disease.
Sickness
A defective or unsound condition.
Illness
The quality of being disagreeable or unpleasant.
Sickness
The quality or state of being sick or diseased; illness.
Illness
Evil; wickedness.
Sickness
Nausea; qualmishness; as, sickness of stomach.
Illness
(countable) An instance of a disease or poor health.
Her grandmother had passed away after a long illness.
Suffer form a severe illness
A mild illness
Sickness
(linguistics) The analogical misuse of a rarer or marked grammatical case in the place of a more common or unmarked case.
Illness
(uncountable) A state of bad health or disease.
Many working days this year have been lost through illness.
Sickness
The quality or state of being sick or diseased; illness; sisease or malady.
I do lament the sickness of the king.
Trust not too much your now resistless charms;Those, age or sickness soon or late disarms.
Illness
The condition of being ill, evil, or bad; badness; unfavorableness.
Sickness
Nausea; qualmishness; as, sickness of stomach.
Illness
Disease; indisposition; malady; disorder of health; sickness; as, a short or a severe illness.
Sickness
Impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism
Illness
Wrong moral conduct; wickedness.
Sickness
The state that precedes vomiting
Illness
Impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism
Sickness
The feeling of nausea or vomiting.
The roller coaster ride gave her a bout of sickness.
Common Curiosities
Is "sick" the adjective form of "sickness"?
Yes, "sick" describes someone who is experiencing sickness.
What's the adjective form of "illness"?
"Ill" is the adjective form, describing someone with an illness.
Are illness and sickness synonyms?
Yes, they are often used interchangeably, but they can have nuanced differences.
Is illness more specific than sickness?
Often, yes. Illness can refer to a specific ailment, while sickness can be more general.
Can both terms refer to mental conditions?
Illness, especially "mental illness", is commonly used for mental conditions. Sickness is less common in this context.
Are there other synonyms for these words?
Yes, terms like "malady," "ailment," and "disease" can also be used.
Is "motion sickness" a type of sickness?
Yes, it's a condition where movement causes discomfort or nausea.
Can sickness be short-lived?
Yes, one can be sick for just a day or even a few hours.
Are there degrees of sickness?
Yes, one can be slightly sick or severely sick, for example.
Can you be immune to certain sicknesses?
Yes, after exposure or vaccination, the body can become immune to specific diseases.
Can these words be used metaphorically?
Yes, both can be used to describe societal or moral issues, for example.
Can both words be used in formal medical contexts?
Yes, though "illness" is often more specific and thus more common in detailed diagnoses.
Can an illness be asymptomatic?
Yes, some illnesses might not show symptoms but can still be present.
What's the opposite of being ill?
Being in good health or wellness.
Can you have multiple illnesses at once?
Yes, a person can suffer from more than one illness simultaneously.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
