Sickness vs disease

Question

What is the difference between "sickness vs disease"? Thanks for answering.

Answer 1

Here is my (long) answer:

To my mind, the difference is that the word sickness is less formal and professional than disease. People use the word sickness when talking to children, or when talking informally. Also, when I hear the word disease, it brings with it more negative connotations than sickness, suggesting that the problem is more serious than if it were called simply a sickness. For example, I would not call a cold a disease, but perhaps a sickness. Sickness can also be used as a state of being (the opposite of health), while disease is not used in that way. (i.e. "In sickness and in health...until death do us part..." from the marriage rite)

Thank you so much! - luisssito, Feb 11, 2013

Great answer Pumpkin !! - shish75, Feb 11, 2013

Yes, great answer. I too tend to think of sickness, as both less major, and less enduring, but there rules are not hard and fast, and it wouldn´t be hard to come up with counter examples. - rogspax, Feb 12, 2013

Answer 2

The term disease broadly refers to any condition that impairs normal function.

Illness and sickness are generally used as synonyms for disease. However, this term is occasionally used to refer specifically to the patient's personal experience of their disease.

Learn more specifics here

Thanks Rac! - luisssito, Feb 12, 2013

De nada mi amor. - rac1, Feb 12, 2013

Answer 3

What about ailment and malady ?

I think the last one is twins with the french word (maladie).

Interesting. I think of those both more like sickness, and more minor. - rogspax, Feb 12, 2013

An "ailment" is any condition that ails one. A malady" I believe, usually refers to a chronic ailment. I'm not 100% sure of that, but it's a good working guide. - PeterRS, Feb 12, 2013

Yes I agree with rogspax they both sound smaller, possibly trivial. And they could be used in a comic way. - PumpkinCalabaza, Feb 12, 2013

Answer 4

This is one of those questions that hits me (a native-speaker) like a slap in the face. Huh? What? Wow!

A person can have a "disease" (or an "illness") and not "feel sick". But one can also have a "sickness". It's almost impossible to define any one of the terms without using at least one of the others. I guess "disease" refers to the actual cause of illness, as in "Polio is a terrible disease", not referring to anyone who may be actually sick. Whereas, if I say "John has a terrible sickness" it would imply, at least in my mind, that John is currently sick and really doesn't feel well. Illness would not impute the same sense of personal suffering by John; it seems less personal. "John has a terrible illness", for example, or "John has a terrible disease" could refer to the fact that John has the Huntingtons Disease gene, but has not yet developed symptoms.

In fact, all three terms mean the same thing, but disease is probably the most impersonal and clinical, then illness, then sickness. At least, that's the way I see it in my own usage.

Thanks a lot, it´s a good explanation. - luisssito, Feb 12, 2013

Ditto Peter. And yes, I think it´s useful to think of disease as the underlying cause, and sickness as the result. - rogspax, Feb 12, 2013

Answer 5

You also have to include 'illness' ; - )

The shortest explanation I could find: "Disease is something that causes illness in one's body & sickness is the feeling of not being well."

This is one of the many, many links where you can find more information, but I hope somebody will come up with a short, clear and correct answer.

Yes you´re right, I forgot that word: illness :) - luisssito, Feb 11, 2013

Great answer and good link !:). - shish75, Feb 11, 2013

Answer 6

Man, you guys have all put up some great stuff here, and I can´t add more than I already have in a few comments, other than to say I´m glad I´m not having to learn this in English. Yikes!

Me too, Roger. :) - rac1, Feb 12, 2013

Answer 7

Disease is more scary to hear than sickness

agreed. - rogspax, Feb 12, 2013