What is difference between illness and sickness
by Yogi P - October 19, 2023
Distinguishing Illness from Sickness
The English language often confuses us when it comes to words that appear to be similar, yet have varying meanings and usages. One such pair of words are “illness” and “sickness”. Let’s explore the differences between these two words.
Meaning and Usage
Illness refers to an illness or medical condition that affects the body or mind and limits one’s usual activities. It suggests a more severe form of health problem, and is mostly associated with chronic ailments that require professional medical attention and long-term treatment.
On the other hand, sickness is linked to more acute and milder health issues. It is more prevalent in everyday conversations and is often used to describe the more common different forms of the num unwell.
Illness is usually more severe than sickness and often refers to severe, recurring (like asthma or diabetes), managed health conditions, while sickness implies mostly short-term, flu-like ailments.
Table Summarizing the Difference Between Illness and Sickness
| Word | Illness | Sickness |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | A medical condition or health problem causing a possible limit on one’s usual activities. | A short-term and generally minor disorder of the body or mind. |
| Usage | Used in a variety of different contexts to refer to more serious, chronic health conditions. | Most commonly used to describe minor acute conditions and to express feeling unwell. |
| Examples | She suffers from a chronic illness that requires long-term care and treatment. | He felt unwell yesterday but today he’s mostly recovered from his sickness. |
Examples of Difference Between Illness and Sickness
Illness could refer to a range of medical conditions, from cancer to diabetes, as in: “He was diagnosed with a terminal illness.”
Sickness could mean physical ailments such as a cold or a fever, as in the sentence: “He had a bad case of the flu and was feeling very sick.”
At times, the two words may be used interchangeably to express feelings of being unwell as in: “I feel quite ill/sick today.”
Difference between “illness” and “sickness”:
| Aspect | Illness | Sickness |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | A state of poor health or disease | A state of being unwell or unhealthy |
| Usage | Used to describe a medical condition or a state of being unwell | Used to describe a general state of being unwell or experiencing discomfort |
| Medical Context | More commonly used in medical or clinical contexts | Used in informal and everyday language |
| Example | He was diagnosed with a severe illness. | She called in sick due to her sickness. |
| Formality | Generally more formal | Informal or casual usage |
| Synonyms | Disease, ailment, disorder, malady | Ailment, unwellness, indisposition |
Activity to Enhance Understanding
To practice understanding the subtle difference between these two words, we can analyze different text sources and pinpoint how the words are employed. Try identifying the terms used in news reports, medical journals, or even magazines and observe the difference in the context of their use.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we observe that while the words may appear to be similar, they carry distinct meanings and have diverse usages in different contexts. It’s important to note the distinctions between them and be mindful of our word choice.
With great overview of the difference between illness and sickness, now you have all the resources to help you use the right word in the right situation.
