she is unwell

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "She is unwell" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who is not feeling healthy. For example: My sister has been feeling tired lately, so I'm worried that she is unwell.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

The mother is old, and since she received this news, she is unwell".

The New York Times

She is unwell, deeply traumatised, and desperately concerned for her future.

The Guardian

She has no insight into her mental illness and doesn't believe she is unwell.

The Guardian - Opinion

She is unwell again and troubled too greatly by her immediate future.

The Guardian

"Some areas may expect women to go to a clinic for postnatal care, which is fine if she is feeling well and has transport, but not if she is unwell and does not have transport.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I am better able to focus but trouble occurs when I have to leave the lab by a certain time to pick Isobel up or even drop everything at short notice if she is unwell.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Betsie Verwoerd, whose husband, HF Verwoerd, was assassinated in 1966, was unable to come because she was unwell.

The Guardian - Opinion

Ms. Gainsbourg underwent successful emergency surgery but remained convinced that she was unwell, continuing to schedule MRI examinations for months after getting a clean bill of health.

The New York Times - Arts

She was unwell during her A-levels and rather than retaking the year at school she decided to do a BTec in health science at her local college.

The Guardian

Jacqueline Bell spent 28 years working and stopped, with great regret, when she was made redundant by two successive employers for missing days because she was unwell.

The Guardian

Angela doesn't speak about it much but she's unwell herself, with fibromyalgia, a chronic illness that makes the body and mind tired and pained.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "she is unwell" when a more formal or slightly detached tone is desired. It's appropriate in professional or medical contexts where directness might be softened.

Common error

Avoid using "she is unwell" in casual conversations. Opt for more common and relatable phrases like "she is sick" or "she's not feeling well" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she is unwell" primarily functions as a descriptive statement, indicating the state of someone's health. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable. It conveys that a female person is experiencing some form of illness or poor health.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Wiki

13%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "she is unwell" is a grammatically sound and relatively common way to express that a female individual is not in good health. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While versatile, it leans toward a more formal or neutral register, making it suitable for professional, medical, or news contexts. More casual alternatives like "she is sick" might be preferred in everyday conversation. This analysis highlights the importance of considering context and audience when choosing the most appropriate language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she is not well

This alternative is a more common and direct way of saying someone is sick.

she is feeling sick

This emphasizes the subjective experience of illness.

she is under the weather

This is an idiomatic expression for feeling slightly ill.

she is indisposed

This alternative suggests a formal or polite way of saying someone is unable to attend or function normally due to illness.

she is ailing

This indicates a prolonged or chronic illness.

she is in poor health

This focuses on the overall state of her health.

she is suffering from an illness

This specifically mentions the presence of an illness.

she is out of sorts

Suggests a temporary and mild feeling of discomfort or illness.

she has fallen ill

This implies a sudden onset of illness.

her health is failing

This suggests a gradual decline in health.

FAQs

What does "she is unwell" mean?

The phrase "she is unwell" means that she is not in good health; she is sick or ill. It's a polite and somewhat formal way of describing someone's poor health condition.

When is it appropriate to use "she is unwell"?

It's best to use "she is unwell" in formal settings, medical contexts, or when aiming for a slightly detached or professional tone. In casual conversation, simpler phrases like "she is sick" or "she is not feeling well" may be more suitable.

Are there synonyms for "she is unwell"?

Yes, there are many synonyms. Some alternatives include "she is not well", "she is feeling sick", "she is under the weather", and "she is indisposed".

Is "she is unwell" more formal than "she is sick"?

Yes, "she is unwell" is generally considered more formal and less direct than "she is sick". The choice between them depends on the context and the desired level of formality.