illness
gb/ˈɪlnəs/ us/ˈɪlnəs/
A2
English
~ 2400
betegség
NOUN
A2
1
betegség
A2
Usage pattern:
[someone] has [an illness]
She missed two weeks of work due to a serious illness.
Súlyos betegség miatt két hetet hiányzott a munkából.
Mental illness is an important public health issue.
A mentális betegségek fontos közegészségügyi problémát jelentenek.
The doctor specializes in treating chronic illnesses like diabetes.
His sudden illness forced him to cancel the trip.
They are researching new ways to prevent infectious illnesses.
Learner examples
My father has an illness and cannot work.
Apámnak van egy betegsége, ezért nem tud dolgozni.
She got better after a long illness.
Hosszú betegség után jobban lett.
He is in bed because of his illness.
The hospital helps people with many kinds of illness.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'illness' with 'injury'; 'illness' refers to disease or poor health, not physical harm from accidents.
Meaning
Poor health from disease
Collocations
serious illness
|chronic illness
|mental illness
|recover from illness
|illness prevention
Synonyms
sickness (More informal and sometimes less serious in tone; can also refer to nausea.)
|
disease (More technical or medical; often refers to a specific diagnosed condition.)
Antonyms
health (Refers to a state of being physically and mentally well, the opposite of having an illness.)
Themes
health
|medicine
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
When someone is not healthy because they have a disease or other health problem.
A condition in which a person's body or mind is not healthy due to disease or medical problems.
Grammar
Dictionary form
illness
IPA
GB/ˈɪlnəs/
US/ˈɪlnəs/
Syllables & stress
ill - ness (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (ill)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: illness
- Plural: illness, illnesses
Word family
Expressions
mental illness
1/mˈɛntəl ˈɪlnəs/
fixed phrase
Disorder affecting mental health
A problem with the mind that affects how a person thinks, feels, or behaves.
Examples
- Depression is a common type of mental illness.
- There is less stigma about mental illness today than in the past.
recover from illness
1/ɹɪkˈʌvɚ fɹˈʌm ˈɪlnəs/
fixed phrase
Get better after sickness
To become healthy again after being sick.
Examples
- He took two weeks to recover from his illness.
- Good rest will help you recover from illness faster.
serious illness
1/sˈɪɹiəs ˈɪlnəs/
fixed phrase
Severe health condition
An illness that is very bad and can cause big problems for your health.
Examples
- The charity supports children with serious illnesses.
- She was hospitalized due to a serious illness.
chronic illness
1/kɹˈɑnɪk ˈɪlnəs/
fixed phrase
Long-lasting illness
An illness that stays for a long time and usually cannot be cured completely.
Examples
- Diabetes is a chronic illness that requires daily care.
- Diabetes is a common chronic illness affecting millions worldwide.
- Living with a chronic illness can be challenging.
- She was diagnosed with a chronic illness in her twenties.
terminal illness
1/tˈɚmɪnəl ˈɪlnəs/
fixed phrase
Illness causing eventual death
An illness that will cause death and cannot be cured.
Examples
- The patient was diagnosed with a terminal illness.
- He was diagnosed with a terminal illness last year.
- She dedicated her last months to raising awareness about her terminal illness.
- Hospices provide care for people with terminal illnesses.