Ill and sick

Ill is often used to mean ‘unwell’ in British English. In American English ill is unusual except in a formal style. Note that we use ill after a verb.

• She is ill.

In Attributive position (before a noun), many British people prefer to use sick. Sick is also the normal informal American word for unwell.

• The President is sick.

Be sick can mean ‘vomit’.

• I was sick three times in the night.
• She is never sea-sick.
• ‘I feel sick. Where is the bathroom?’