symptom
SIMP-tum
/ˈsɪmptəm/
A physical or mental feature indicating the presence of a disease or condition.
Refers to a subjective experience reported by a patient or a visible sign of an underlying illness.
The story behind the word. From Greek 'symptōma', meaning a chance happening or casualty. It literally described things 'falling together' at the same time to indicate a underlying condition.
Word relationships
- indication: 'Indication' is broader and can refer to non-medical signs or clues.
- manifestation: 'Manifestation' emphasizes the visible outward expression of an internal state.
- cause: 'Cause' is the root origin, whereas a symptom is the resulting manifestation.
Commonly confused with
- syndrome: A symptom is a single sign of illness, whereas a syndrome is a recognizable cluster of multiple symptoms.
Word family
- symptomatic (adjective): Showing or serving as a sign of illness.
- asymptomatic (adjective): Showing no symptoms of disease.
Collocations
- early symptom
- mild symptom
- severe symptom
- manage symptoms
Idioms & expressions
- symptom of a broader problem
Example sentences
- "A persistent cough was the primary symptom that brought her to the clinic." Medical diagnosis
Memory hook
When 'SIMilar P-Things COM' (symptom) together, they point to an illness. Things falling together to signal sickness.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'cause' or 'diagnosis'; a symptom is an effect, not the root reason for illness.
Fun facts
- In non-medical contexts, 'symptom' often describes social or economic problems, like traffic being a symptom of urban growth.
Related words
Explore more words
diagnosis, symptomatic, syndrome, asymptomatic, psychosomatic, pathology
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