disease
gb/dɪzˈiz/ us/dɪzˈiz/
B1
English
~ 1000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
Illness of body or mind
A sickness that stops the body or mind from working normally.
Usage pattern:
[someone] has [a disease]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'disease' with 'illness' or 'sickness'. 'Disease' usually refers to a specific medical condition with defined symptoms and causes, not just feeling unwell.
Synonyms
illness (A more general term that includes both minor and serious health problems.)
|
sickness (Common in everyday speech; can refer to mild conditions or feeling unwell.)
|
disorder (More formal or medical; often used for mental or functional conditions.)
Antonyms
health (The state of being free from illness or injury.)
|
wellness (A state of good physical and mental health, often with a focus on prevention.)
Collocations
infectious disease
|chronic disease
|heart disease
|disease prevention
|disease outbreak
Themes
health
|medicine
|science
|body
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The disease spread quickly through the small village.
- Heart disease is the leading cause of death in many countries.
- Scientists are working on a cure for the rare disease.
- The new vaccine could prevent the spread of the disease.
- She has been living with the disease for over ten years.
Learner examples
- The doctor says I have a disease.
- This medicine helps people with that disease.
- He got a disease from dirty water.
- The disease makes it hard for her to breathe.
Grammar
Dictionary form
disease
IPA
GB/dɪzˈiz/
US/dɪzˈiz/
Syllables & stress
dis - ease (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ease)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: disease
- Plural: disease, diseases
Word family
Forms
diseases
noun
Core family
diseased
adjective
Expressions
catch a disease
1/kˈæt͡ʃ ə dɪzˈiz/
fixed phrase
Become infected with an illness
To get sick because of germs or infection.
Examples
- You can catch a disease from contaminated water.
- He caught a disease while traveling abroad.
disease prevention
1/dɪzˈiz pɹivˈɛnʃən/
fixed phrase
Actions to stop illnesses
Steps taken to keep people from getting sick.
Examples
- Vaccination is an important part of disease prevention.
- Healthy eating can help with disease prevention.
heart disease
1/hˈɑɹt dɪzˈiz/
fixed phrase
Medical condition of the heart
A sickness that affects the heart and how it works.
Examples
- Smoking increases the risk of heart disease.
- Heart disease is common in older adults.
rare disease
1/ɹˈɛɹ dɪzˈiz/
fixed phrase
Uncommon illness affecting few people
A sickness that very few people have.
Examples
- She was diagnosed with a rare disease last year.
- Researchers are trying to find treatments for rare diseases.
spread of disease
1/spɹˈɛd əv dɪzˈiz/
fixed phrase
Transmission of illness
The way sickness moves from one person, animal, or place to another.
Examples
- Good hygiene helps prevent the spread of disease.
- The flood increased the spread of disease in the area.