disease

/dɪˈziːz/noun

A condition that makes a person, animal, or plant unwell or stops it working properly, unlike an injury, which usually happens in an instant.

Example sentences

“Regular hand-washing helps stop the spread of disease.”
“Malaria is a disease spread by mosquitoes in warm climates.”

'Heart disease', 'infectious disease'. Figuratively it labels social ills, a use that can sound moralizing, so handle it with care.

Synonyms for disease

illness
sickness
disorder

Related words

chronicLasting for a long time or coming back again and again, used of problems or illnesses.germA tiny living thing, such as a bacterium or virus, that can cause illness.acuteVery strong, keen, or sharp in effect or perception.bacteriaVery small living things, each made of a single cell, found almost everywhere; some cause disease and others are helpful.terminalThe building at an airport where travelers move between ground transport and their flights.virusA tiny germ, much smaller than bacteria, that gets into living cells and causes diseases such as colds and flu.