What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Illness vs Unwellness - What's the difference?

illness | unwellness |

As nouns the difference between illness and unwellness

is that illness is (countable) an instance of a disease or poor health while unwellness is the state or characteristic of being unwell; a feeling of slight to moderate sickliness.

illness

English

Noun

  • (countable) An instance of a disease or poor health.
  • (uncountable) A state of bad health or disease.

    • Synonyms

    * (instance) sickness * (state) sickness * See also

    Related terms

    * ill * hypochondriac

    External links

    *

    unwellness

    English

    Noun

    (-)
  • The state or characteristic of being unwell; a feeling of slight to moderate sickliness.
  • *1887 , , The Autobiography of Charles Darwin , ch. 5:
  • *:During the three years and eight months whilst we resided in London, I did less scientific work, though I worked as hard as I possibly could, than during any other equal length of time in my life. This was owing to frequently recurring unwellness , and to one long and serious illness.

    • Usage notes

    * "Unwellness" denotes a state of being ill, but tends to suggest a lesser degree of ailment than would be indicated by the terms "illness" or "sickness".