illnesses

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "illnesses" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a medical condition or disease, or a general state of poor health. Example sentence: Regular exercise is important for preventing certain illnesses.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He kept getting ill, several illnesses at once.

The Economist

There was no doubt that many other people spent money they could ill afford to treat illnesses that were wrongly diagnosed in the first place.MELISSA ANDERSONVictoria, CanadaNo funSIR Perhaps the anti-euro No campaigners could take a leaf from the 1960s anti-draft movement in America ("Culture wars on Europe", September 9th).

The Economist

The work that Snow, who was born 200 years ago last Friday, undertook to prove his case remains a classic of medical detection and reveals Snow as one of the founders of epidemiology, a science that has since helped unravel the causes of a host of illnesses and saved countless lives.

The Guardian - Opinion

Community-based healthcare should be limited to major illnesses: Each health concern you ask a community health worker to address adds complexity of training, supply chain and culture.

The Guardian

One of the devils has the sores and grey skin that appear in other parts of the altarpiece and evoke the illnesses treated there.

The Guardian

People with personality disorders tend to function fairly well (as opposed to, say, those with psychotic illnesses) until the pressure really piles on.

The Guardian

Without treatment for HIV, for instance, the immune systems of those infected can become seriously damaged and they will develop life-threatening illnesses such as cancer.

The Guardian

Alcohol-related illnesses and incidents (including accidents, violence and suicide in which alcohol has factored) are the most common cause of death for both working age men and women there – and have been so for many years.

The Guardian - Opinion

Some of the infections happened in a building being used as an isolation centre, where people who will have had other illnesses with similar symptoms such as malaria were being held with those who turned out to have Ebola.

The Guardian

Clifton Ward in Southmead Hospital had 19 beds, was always fully occupied, and provided care for people with a range of illnesses, including schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder and major depression.

The Guardian

"Most of my friends died from Aids-related illnesses," says Pfahler. "It was like a horror movie, watching people with angina, their bodies blowing up, people wearing germ jumpsuits… You can't ever erase these intense images from your eyes.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing "illnesses", be specific if possible. Instead of saying 'He suffered from several illnesses', specify the actual diseases or conditions if the context allows.

Common error

Avoid using "illnesses" when you actually mean symptoms. "Illnesses" are the diseases themselves, while symptoms are the signs of those diseases. For example, instead of 'He had illnesses like fever and cough', say 'He had symptoms like fever and cough'.

Linguistic Context

The word "illnesses" functions primarily as a plural noun. It refers to multiple instances of being sick or having a disease. Ludwig examples show it's used to describe various health conditions affecting individuals or populations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "illnesses" is a grammatically sound and frequently used plural noun referring to multiple instances of being unwell. According to Ludwig, the phrase commonly appears in news, scientific, and formal contexts, making it a versatile term across different registers. While often interchanged with "diseases", it's important to distinguish between the specific ailments and the symptoms they cause. Remember to be as specific as possible when discussing "illnesses" and, as Ludwig AI confirms, this term is correct and usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

medical conditions

Focuses on the medical aspect, encompassing a broader range of health issues.

health problems

A general term for issues affecting one's well-being.

ailments

A more formal or old-fashioned term for minor illnesses.

diseases

Refers to specific pathological conditions with defined symptoms.

sicknesses

A general term for being unwell, often implying a temporary condition.

maladies

A somewhat literary term for diseases or ailments.

health disorders

Emphasizes the disruption of normal bodily functions.

medical issues

A broad term that can include both illnesses and injuries.

pathologies

Focuses on the scientific study of diseases and their causes.

afflictions

Suggests a state of suffering or distress caused by illness.

FAQs

How do I use "illnesses" in a sentence?

The word "illnesses" is used to refer to more than one specific disease or medical condition. For instance, "The study examined the prevalence of various chronic illnesses in the population".

What's the difference between "illnesses" and "diseases"?

While often used interchangeably, "illnesses" can sometimes refer to a broader spectrum of feeling unwell, whereas "diseases" typically indicate diagnosed medical conditions with known pathologies.

What are some common "ailments" similar to "illnesses"?

Similar "ailments" include "diseases", "sicknesses", "maladies", and "medical conditions"; each carries slightly different connotations regarding severity and nature.

Which is correct, "illness" or "illnesses"?

"Illness" is singular, referring to one instance of being unwell, while "illnesses" is plural, referring to multiple or various instances. For example, "She suffered from a chronic illness" versus "She suffered from several chronic illnesses".