- 1[uncountable] a messy state; a lack of order or organization His financial affairs were in complete disorder. The room was in a state of disorder. Everyone began shouting at once and the meeting broke up in disorder. opposite order
- 2[uncountable] violent behavior of large groups of people an outbreak of rioting and public disorder Twenty people were arrested after a night of civil disorder. compare order
- 3[countable] an illness that causes a part of the body to stop functioning correctly a blood/bowel, etc. disorder eating disorders He was suffering from some form of psychiatric disorder. a rare disorder of the liver Most people with an acute mental disorder can be treated at home. Thesaurusdisease
- illness
- disorder
- infection
- condition
- ailment
- bug
- disease a medical problem affecting humans, animals, or plants, often caused by infection:He suffers from a rare blood disease.
- illness a medical problem, or a period of suffering from one:She died after a long illness.
- Disease is used to talk about more severe physical medical problems, especially those that affect the organs. Illness is used to talk about both more severe and more minor medical problems, and, more commonly, those that affect mental health:heart/kidney/liver illness mental disease. Disease is not used about a period of illness:She died after a long disease.
- disorder (somewhat formal) an illness that causes a part of the body to stop functioning correctly:a rare disorder of the liver A disorder is generally not infectious. Disorder is used most frequently with words relating to mental problems, for example psychiatric, personality, mental, and eating. When it is used to talk about physical problems, it is most often used with blood, bowel, and kidney, and these are commonly serious, severe, or rare.
- infection an illness that is caused by bacteria or a virus:a sinus infection an ear infection
- condition a medical problem that you have for a long time because it is not possible to cure it:a heart condition
- ailment (somewhat formal) an illness that is not very serious:childhood ailments
- bug (informal) an infectious illness that is usually fairly mild:a nasty flu bug
- to have/suffer from a(n) disease/illness/disorder/infection/condition/ailment/bug
- to catch/contract/get/pick up a(n) disease/illness/infection/bug
Check pronunciation: disorder