affliction

noun

af·​flic·​tion ə-ˈflik-shən How to pronounce affliction (audio)
1
: a cause of persistent pain or distress
a mysterious affliction
2
: great suffering
felt empathy with their affliction
3
: the state of being afflicted by something that causes suffering
her affliction with polio

Examples of affliction in a Sentence

She lost her sight and is now learning to live with her affliction. He died from a mysterious affliction.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Wanting to look as good in real life as on social media is a universal affliction. José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2025 Fixed an issue where a perk wrongly indicated a 600% affliction build up with Posture Attacks. Oliver Brandt, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025 Malone acknowledged earlier this season that Gordon’s calf strain is the type of soft tissue affliction that Denver will have to navigate until the end. Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 19 Mar. 2025 The affliction is incurable, but Kevin treated his audience to detailed accountings of his treatments and of the status of his health, often with good humor, after he was first diagnosed in 2014. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for affliction

Word History

Etymology

Middle English affliccioun "misery, distress, self-inflicted pain," borrowed from Anglo-French afflicion, borrowed from Late Latin afflīctiōn-, afflīctiō, from Latin afflīgere "to afflict" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of affliction was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Affliction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/affliction. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

affliction

noun
af·​flic·​tion ə-ˈflik-shən How to pronounce affliction (audio)
1
: the state of being afflicted
2
: something that causes pain or unhappiness

More from Merriam-Webster on affliction

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