malady
A disease or ailment affecting physical or mental health
Examples
In a meeting
“Presenteeism is a workplace malady that costs companies billions annually.”
Over coffee
“Lower back pain is a common malady among desk workers.”
Why this word
illness
Malady has a formal or literary register suggesting chronic or serious conditions, while illness is neutral and everyday
sickness
Malady conveys a specific disease or ailment, while sickness is general and includes temporary unwellness
disease
Malady has an archaic or elevated tone suited to formal contexts, while disease is the standard clinical term
Usage tip
Use for persistent or significant health issues. More formal than 'illness' and often implies chronic conditions.
Etymology
Old French 'maladie' meaning 'sickness', from 'malade' (sick), from Latin 'male habitus' (in bad condition)
Get a new word every morning
One precise word per day. Under 60 seconds to read. Free forever.
Related words
affliction
A condition causing pain or suffering
contagious
Capable of spreading from person to person rapidly
regimen
A prescribed course of treatment, diet, or exercise
immunize
Protect against disease or negative influence
preventative
Designed to stop something from happening before it occurs
symptom
A physical or mental feature indicating a condition or problem