Condition vs Disease

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Condition

Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun

Disease

Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
 ConditionDisease
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/kənˈdɪʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kənˈdɪʃn/"]/🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈziːz/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈziːz/"]/
MeaningA state or situation that must be met or that affects something.An illness or sickness that affects a person's body or mind.
ExampleThe condition of the car was poor after the long trip.The doctor diagnosed her with a rare disease.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR levelA2A2
Part of speechnounnoun
Collocationsexcellent, good, immaculate, assess, evaluate, in… condition, critical, serious, stable, get better, improve, deteriorate, assess, monitor, in a… condition, in… condition, out of condition, be in no condition to do something, medical, life-threatening, serious, have, suffer from, be born with, favourable/​favorable, good, ideal, live in, work in, work under, exist, persist, prevail, in condition, under condition, favourable/​favorable, good, ideal, live in, work in, work under, exist, persist, prevail, in condition, under condition, strict, special, attach, impose, lay down, apply, on condition that, on… condition, under… condition, a breach of a condition, conditions of employment, sale, etc., terms and conditions, necessary, sufficient, create, condition for, human, improvecommon, obscure, rare, outbreak, have, suffer from, catch, spread, affect somebody, afflict somebody, with a/​the disease, disease in, disease of, a cure for a disease, the incidence of (a) disease, a patient with a disease
Antonymsdisorder, chaos, confusionhealth, wellness
Common mistakesConfused with 'conditions' as in multiple situations., Used incorrectly with verbs that don't match its meaning., Omitting the context, like 'condition of' instead of just 'condition'.Confused with 'disorder' which refers to a less defined condition., Using 'disease' too casually in everyday conversations., Omitting the article when referring to specific diseases.
Usage notesUsed in both everyday conversation and formal settings. More formal when discussing health or legal matters, while informal uses may be seen in everyday discussions about preferences.Commonly used in medical contexts. Not typically used to refer to minor illnesses like colds; more for serious or chronic conditions.

Frequently asked questions: Condition vs Disease

What's the difference between Condition and Disease?

Condition: A state or situation that must be met or that affects something. Disease: An illness or sickness that affects a person's body or mind.

Are Condition and Disease the same CEFR level?

Condition: A2, Disease: A2 on the CEFR scale.

Can I use Condition and Disease interchangeably?

Not always. Condition and Disease are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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