adjective
-
sick or ill
-
unwilling
Other Word Forms
- indisposedness noun
- indisposition noun
Etymology
Origin of indisposed
1375–1425; late Middle English: out of order, not suitable. See in- 3, disposed
Explanation
The adjective indisposed is a slightly formal way to describe someone who's feeling sick. You might call your boss to tell her that you can't make it to work because you're indisposed. When you're a bit under the weather, you're indisposed, particularly if you're ill enough to stay in bed and miss work or school. Another meaning of indisposed is "unwilling" — you're able to do something but refuse to do it. You might say, "I'm indisposed to visit my cousin because she's always so mean to me." Around 1400, it meant "not prepared," and by the mid-15th century it meant "deceased" or "dead." The Late Latin root word is indispositus, "without order" or "confused."
Vocabulary lists containing indisposed
Chains
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The Shining
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The Voice That Challenged a Nation
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Pittsburgh Steelers went into Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders with an indisposed defense and left with the squad in worse shape, but it appears that there’s hope.
From Fox News • Sep. 21, 2021
Members of #FreeBritney scoured Spears’ beach photos for hidden text written in the sand; they claimed a lookalike was posting photos on her account and the real Britney was indisposed.
From Slate • Jul. 2, 2021
“She is indisposed due to illness, but she will participate in the consideration and decision of the cases on the basis of the briefs and the transcripts or recordings of the oral arguments.”
From Salon • Nov. 13, 2019
“He is very much indisposed, and on Sunday was unable to leave his bed,” the paper said.
From Washington Post • Feb. 13, 2019
He looked indisposed — to see Sackville-Bagginses at any rate; and he stood up, fidgeting with something in his pocket.
From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
