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"Sick" and "ill"

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"Sick" and "ill"
Answer

Sick and ill are words that are similar in meaning but have clear differences in usage.

Editor Ben Korzec writes about these differences:

Sick is the less formal of the two words. It usually describes short-term diseases or ailments, like the flu, and is commonly used to refer to a feeling of nausea. Think of a sick child that stays home instead of going to school or a person who feels sick to their stomach after a roller coaster ride.

Ill is more formal and is used to describe long- and short-term diseases or ailments. A person who is not in good health because of something serious like cancer or pneumonia might be said to be ill. On the other hand, a person who is affected with a minor fever or cold can also be called ill. Like sick, ill also refers to a feeling of nausea.

Two common combinations of ill are "ill health" and "mentally ill."  Ill is the preferred word in such cases, though sick can be used in its place.

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