Ill vs. Sick: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 7, 2023
"Ill" and "sick" generally mean suffering from a disease or poor health; "ill" is more formal and "sick" is often used for short-term conditions or to emphasize discomfort or the experience of feeling unwell.
Key Differences
"Ill" and "sick" are terms commonly used interchangeably to describe someone suffering from a disease or poor health. However, "ill" is considered more formal and is often used in a medical context or to describe more severe or long-term conditions. Conversely, "sick" is more colloquial and is often employed to describe short-term ailments or temporary conditions, emphasizing the experience of feeling unwell or discomfort.
The choice between "ill" and "sick" can also be influenced by regional dialects and preferences. For example, British English might favor "ill" to describe someone who is not in good health, whereas American English might more commonly use "sick." However, both terms are universally understood, and the context often dictates the choice of word, as "sick" can also refer to vomiting, or feeling nauseated.
The usage of "ill" is often more suited to formal writing or conversations, describing a state of not being in good health, possibly due to a chronic condition. It might be used to describe general, prolonged, or serious health conditions. On the other hand, "sick" can be seen as a more casual term, used to describe temporary states of health such as a cold or a stomach bug and is more common in everyday speech.
Additionally, "sick" has broadened its meaning in informal language to describe feelings of disgust or aversion, as in "that’s sick," or it can denote something impressive or outstanding, as in "that’s a sick beat." "Ill," however, remains more confined to its medical or health-related connotations and is less versatile in informal slang.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Refers to suffering from a disease or poor health.
Often refers to experiencing short-term ailments or discomfort.
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Formality
More formal and used for long-term or severe conditions.
Informal and commonly used for temporary conditions.
Regional Usage
Preferred in British English.
More common in American English.
Additional Meanings
Primarily health-related.
Can refer to feelings of disgust or to something impressive.
Context
Suited to formal writing or conversations.
More casual and common in everyday speech.
Ill and Sick Definitions
Ill
Harmful or unfavorable.
He wished no ill upon them.
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Sick
Feeling nauseated; inclined to vomit.
She felt sick after the rollercoaster ride.
Ill
Of poor quality or inferior.
It was an ill attempt at reconciliation.
Sick
Deeply affected with some unpleasant feeling, as disgust, anger, or depression.
He is sick with worry.
Ill
With difficulty or inconvenience; hardly.
He can ill afford to lose.
Sick
Mentally, morally, or emotionally deranged, corrupt, or unsound.
There’s something sick about his obsession.
Ill
In an unfavorable or unkind manner.
He spoke ill of her to everyone.
Sick
Exceptional; outstanding.
That’s a sick guitar solo!
Ill
Not healthy; sick
I began to feel ill last week.
Sick
Suffering from or affected with a physical illness; ailing.
Ill
Not normal; unsound
An ill condition of body and mind.
Sick
Of or for sick persons
Sick wards.
Ill
Resulting in suffering; harmful or distressing
The ill effects of a misconceived policy.
Sick
Nauseated.
Ill
Resulting from or suggestive of evil intentions
Ill deeds committed out of spite.
Sick
Mentally ill or disturbed.
Ill
Ascribing an objectionable quality
Holds an ill view of that political group.
Sick
Unwholesome, morbid, or sadistic
A sick joke.
A sick crime.
Ill
Hostile or unfriendly
Ill feeling between rivals.
Sick
Defective; unsound
A sick economy.
Ill
Harmful; pernicious
The ill effects of a misconceived policy.
Sick
Deeply distressed; upset
Sick with worry.
Ill
Not favorable; unpropitious
Ill predictions.
Sick
Disgusted; revolted.
Ill
Not measuring up to recognized standards of excellence, as of behavior or conduct
Ill manners.
Sick
Weary; tired
Sick of it all.
Ill
(Slang) Excellent; outstanding
Your new car is really ill!.
Sick
Pining; longing
Sick for his native land.
Ill
In a bad, inadequate, or improper way. Often used in combination
My words were ill-chosen.
Sick
In need of repairs
A sick ship.
Ill
In an unfavorable way; unpropitiously
A statistic that bodes ill for job growth.
Sick
Constituting an unhealthy environment for those working or residing within
A sick office building.
Ill
Scarcely or with difficulty
We can ill afford another mistake.
Sick
Unable to produce a profitable yield of crops
Sick soil.
Ill
Evil, wrongdoing, or harm
The ill that befell the townspeople.
Sick
(Slang) Excellent; outstanding
Did a sick run down the halfpipe.
Ill
Something that causes suffering; trouble
The social ills of urban life.
Sick
Sick people considered as a group. Often used with the.
Ill
Something that reflects in an unfavorable way on one
Please don't speak ill of me when I'm gone.
Sick
Chiefly British Vomit.
Ill
(used with a pl. verb) Sick people considered as a group. Often used with the.
Sick
Variant of sic2.
Ill
(obsolete) Evil; wicked (of people).
Sick
In poor health; ill.
She was sick all day with the flu.
We have to care for the sick.
Ill
(archaic) Morally reprehensible (of behaviour etc.); blameworthy.
Sick
Having an urge to vomit.
Ill
Indicative of unkind or malevolent intentions; harsh, cruel.
He suffered from ill treatment.
Sick
(colloquial) Mentally unstable, disturbed.
Ill
Unpropitious, unkind, faulty, not up to reasonable standard.
Ill manners; ill will
Sick
(colloquial) In bad taste.
That's a sick joke.
Ill
Unwell in terms of health or physical condition; sick.
Mentally ill people.
I've been ill with the flu for the past few days.
Sick
Tired of or annoyed by something.
I've heard that song on the radio so many times that I'm starting to get sick of it.
Ill
Having an urge to vomit.
Seeing those pictures made me ill.
Sick
(slang) Very good, excellent, awesome, badass.
This tune is sick.
Dude, this car's got a sick subwoofer!
Ill
(hip-hop slang) Sublime, with the connotation of being so in a singularly creative way.
Sick
In poor condition.
Sick building syndrome; my car is looking pretty sick; my job prospects are pretty sick
Ill
(slang) Extremely bad (bad enough to make one ill). Generally used indirectly with to be.
That band was ill.
Sick
(agriculture) Failing to sustain adequate harvests of crop, usually specified.
Ill
(dated) Unwise; not a good idea.
Sick
Vomit.
He lay there in a pool of his own sick.
Ill
Not well; imperfectly, badly
Sick
(especially in the phrases on the sick and on long-term sick) Any of various current or former benefits or allowances paid by the Government to support the sick, disabled or incapacitated.
Ill
(often pluralized) Trouble; distress; misfortune; adversity.
Music won't solve all the world's ills, but it can make them easier to bear.
Sick
(colloquial) To vomit.
I woke up at 4 am and sicked on the floor.
Ill
Harm or injury.
I wouldn't want you to do me ill.
Sick
To fall sick; to sicken.
Ill
Evil; moral wrongfulness.
Sick
(rare) sic
Ill
A physical ailment; an illness.
I am incapacitated by rheumatism and other ills.
Sick
Affected with disease of any kind; ill; indisposed; not in health. See the Synonym under Illness.
Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever.
Behold them that are sick with famine.
Ill
PCP, phencyclidine.
Sick
Affected with, or attended by, nausea; inclined to vomit; as, sick at the stomach; a sick headache.
Ill
To behave aggressively.
Sick
Having a strong dislike; disgusted; surfeited; - with of; as, to be sick of flattery.
He was not so sick of his master as of his work.
Ill
Contrary to good, in a physical sense; contrary or opposed to advantage, happiness, etc.; bad; evil; unfortunate; disagreeable; unfavorable.
Neither is it ill air only that maketh an ill seat, but ill ways, ill markets, and ill neighbors.
There 's some ill planet reigns.
Sick
Corrupted; imperfect; impaired; weakned.
So great is his antipathy against episcopacy, that, if a seraphim himself should be a bishop, he would either find or make some sick feathers in his wings.
Ill
Contrary to good, in a moral sense; evil; wicked; wrong; iniquitious; naughtly; bad; improper.
Of his own body he was ill, and gaveThe clergy ill example.
Sick
Sickness.
Ill
Sick; indisposed; unwell; diseased; disordered; as, ill of a fever.
I am in health, I breathe, and see thee ill.
Sick
To fall sick; to sicken.
Ill
Not according with rule, fitness, or propriety; incorrect; rude; unpolished; inelegant.
That 's an ill phrase.
Sick
People who are sick;
They devote their lives to caring for the sick
Ill
Whatever annoys or impairs happiness, or prevents success; evil of any kind; misfortune; calamity; disease; pain; as, the ills of humanity.
Who can all sense of others' ills escapeIs but a brute at best in human shape.
That makes us rather bear those ills we haveThan fly to others that we know not of.
Sick
Eject the contents of the stomach through the mouth;
After drinking too much, the students vomited
He purged continuously
The patient regurgitated the food we gave him last night
Ill
Whatever is contrary to good, in a moral sense; wickedness; depravity; iniquity; wrong; evil.
Strong virtue, like strong nature, struggles still,Exerts itself, and then throws off the ill.
Sick
Not in good physical or mental health;
Ill from the monotony of his suffering
Ill
In a ill manner; badly; weakly.
How ill this taper burns!
Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey,Where wealth accumulates and men decay.
Sick
Feeling nausea; feeling about to vomit
Ill
An often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining
Sick
Affected with madness or insanity;
A man who had gone mad
Ill
Not in good physical or mental health;
Ill from the monotony of his suffering
Sick
Having a strong distaste from surfeit;
Grew more and more disgusted
Fed up with their complaints
Sick of it all
Sick to death of flattery
Gossip that makes one sick
Tired of the noise and smoke
Ill
Resulting in suffering or adversity;
Ill effects
It's an ill wind that blows no good
Sick
Suffering from ill health or disease; unwell.
He is too sick to go to work.
Ill
Distressing;
Ill manners
Of ill repute
Ill
Indicating hostility or enmity;
You certainly did me an ill turn
Ill feelings
Ill will
Ill
Presaging ill-fortune;
Ill omens
Ill predictions
My words with inauspicious thunderings shook heaven
A dead and ominous silence prevailed
A by-election at a time highly unpropitious for the Government
Ill
(`ill' is often used as a combining form) in a poor or improper or unsatisfactory manner; not well;
He was ill prepared
It ill befits a man to betray old friends
The car runs badly
He performed badly on the exam
The team played poorly
Ill-fitting clothes
An ill-conceived plan
Ill
Unfavorably or with disapproval;
Tried not to speak ill of the dead
Thought badly of him for his lack of concern
Ill
With difficulty or inconvenience; scarcely or hardly;
We can ill afford to buy a new car just now
Ill
Suffering from a disease or poor health.
She has been ill for a week.
FAQs
Does "sick" have slang meanings?
Yes, "sick" can informally mean feeling disgust or, conversely, something impressive.
Are "ill" and "sick" synonyms?
Generally, yes, but "ill" is more formal, and "sick" has broader, informal meanings.
Can "sick" refer to a short-term condition?
Yes, "sick" often describes temporary or short-term ailments.
Can "ill" refer to a serious condition?
Yes, "ill" can denote more severe or chronic health conditions.
Is "ill" mainly British English?
"Ill" is used in British English, but it is understood and used internationally.
Is "ill" more suitable for describing long-term conditions?
Yes, "ill" is often used for prolonged or chronic health conditions.
Can "sick" imply vomiting?
Yes, "sick" often refers to feeling nauseated or actually vomiting.
Can "ill" imply difficulty or inconvenience?
Yes, as in "he can ill afford," it denotes difficulty or hardship.
Is "ill" unambiguous in meaning?
"Ill" primarily retains its health-related connotations, with fewer slang or informal meanings.
Does "ill" have meanings beyond health?
Yes, "ill" can also mean harmful, inferior, or unfavorable.
Is "ill" used in formal contexts?
"Ill" is typically more formal and suited to formal writing or conversations.
Is "sick" more common in everyday speech?
Yes, "sick" is more casual and commonly used in everyday language.
Can "sick" describe something outstanding?
Yes, informally, "sick" can mean exceptional or outstanding, as in "a sick beat."
Does "sick" imply mental or emotional conditions?
"Sick" can informally denote mental, moral, or emotional unsoundness.
Can "sick" be used to express disgust?
Yes, "sick" can also express feelings of disgust or aversion.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
