# disease

> English word · Noun · IPA /dɪˈziːz/ · frequency rank #1,331

## Definitions
1. An abnormal condition of a human, animal or plant that causes discomfort or dysfunction; distinct from injury insofar as the latter is usually instantaneously acquired.
2. Any abnormal or harmful condition, as of society, people's attitudes, way of living etc.
3. A lack of ease; uneasiness; trouble; vexation; disquiet.

## Etymology
From Middle English disese, from Anglo-Norman desese, disaise, from Old French desaise, from des- + aise. Displaced native Middle English adle, audle (“disease”) (from Old English ādl (“disease, sickness”), see adle), Middle English cothe, coathe (“disease”) (from Old English coþu (“disease”), see coath). By surface analysis, dis- + ease.

## Easily confused with
- **disuse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/disease-vs-disuse)
- **diverse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/disease-vs-diverse)
- **dispose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/disease-vs-dispose)
- **diseases** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/disease-vs-diseases)
- **disperse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/disease-vs-disperse)
- **diseased** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/disease-vs-diseased)
- **dispense** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/disease-vs-dispense)
- **distaste** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/disease-vs-distaste)

## Common misspellings (9)
`ddisease`, `diesase`, `disaese`, `diseaes`, `diseasse`, `disesae`, `dissease`, `dsiease`, `idsease`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/disease