ailing

American  

[ey-ling] / ˈeɪ lɪŋ /

adjective

1. sickly; unwell.

2. unsound or troubled.

   a financially ailing corporation.

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ailing British  

/ ˈeɪlɪŋ /

adjective

1. unwell or unsuccessful

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Etymology

Origin of ailing

First recorded in 1590–1600; ail + -ing ²

Explanation

Someone who's ailing is sick. You might visit your ailing grandmother in the hospital. You can use the adjective ailing to describe someone who's very ill, or use it figuratively, to talk about "our ailing economy," or "the ailing school system." The next time you call in sick to work, you might say, "I can't come in today — I'm afraid I'm ailing." Ailing comes from the verb ail, "trouble or afflict," from the Old English eglan, "to trouble, plague, or pain."

Example Sentences

With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves sidelined the rest of the regular season, the ailing Lakers will be without their starting backcourt possibly into the playoffs.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026

If Rinku Singh did not have to leave the team to attend to his ailing father, Samson may not have got that extra chance.

From BBC • Mar. 9, 2026

Baden-Wuerttemberg is home to some of the biggest names of Germany's important but ailing car industry, such as Porsche and Mercedes-Benz.

From Barron's • Mar. 8, 2026

It is only the second such transition in the Islamic Republic’s 47-year history and the first since the ailing Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini transferred power to Khamenei in June 1989.

From Salon • Mar. 6, 2026

Maybe I should have been honest with Dr. Zimmer's secretary, or pretended to be concerned about the ailing Rosen family and asked where I could deliver a pot of soup.

From "Girl in the Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

• diseased
• feeble
• ill
• sickly
• weak