Symptom

/ˈsɪm(p)təm/ noun

noun ·Common ·High school level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: A perceived change in some function, sensation or appearance of a person that indicates a disease or disorder, such as fever, headache or rash; strictly, a symptom is felt or experienced by the patient, while a sign can be detected by an observer.
  • Grammar: symptom is listed as noun.
  • Nearest alternatives: manifestation, sign, signal, abnormality.
  • Useful contrasts: Treatment of symptoms versus treatment of cause, clinical sign, normal condition.
  • Usage evidence: Do you have this symptom often?

How to use "symptom"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "symptom" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "symptom" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "symptom" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "symptom" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "symptom" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "manifestation" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "symptom", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A perceived change in some function, sensation or appearance of a person that indicates a disease or disorder, such as fever, headache or rash; strictly, a symptom is felt or experienced by the patient, while a sign can be detected by an observer.

    "The doctor told that his coughing and sneezing was the symptom of standing for too long in the rain."

  2. 2
    anything that accompanies X and is regarded as an indication of X's existence wordnet
  3. 3
    A signal; anything that indicates, or is characteristic of, the presence of something else, especially of something undesirable. figuratively

    "Lying, hiding one's true feelings, and having affairs are typical symptoms of a doomed marriage."

  4. 4
    (medicine) any sensation or change in bodily function that is experienced by a patient and is associated with a particular disease wordnet

Antonyms

Treatment of symptoms versus treatment of causeclinical signnormal conditionremission

Example

"Do you have this symptom often?"

Common questions

What does "symptom" mean?

A perceived change in some function, sensation or appearance of a person that indicates a disease or disorder, such as fever, headache or rash; strictly, a symptom is felt or experienced by the patient, while a sign can be detected by an observer.

What is a synonym for "symptom"?

Common synonyms include: manifestation, sign, signal, abnormality, acute disease, affection.

How do you use "symptom" in a sentence?

Do you have this symptom often?

How do you pronounce "symptom"?

Pronounced /ˈsɪm(p)təm/.

Etymology

From Ancient Greek σύμπτωμα (súmptōma, “a happening, accident, symptom of disease”), from stem of συμπίπτω (sumpíptō, “Ι befall”), from συν- (sun-, “together”) + πίπτω (píptō, “I fall”).

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