An ailment is a physical disorder or illness, especially of a minor or chronic nature. It can refer to any type of sickness or health problem, ranging from a cold or sore throat to a chronic back ailment. The term "ailment" is often used to describe a pain or discomfort that doesnt seem to go away. The word "ailment" comes from the Old English word "eglan," meaning "to trouble, plague, afflict," and the suffix "-ment" from the Latin word "mentum," which when added to the end of a word describing an action turns that word into the result of that action.