radiation sickness

noun

: sickness that results from exposure to radiation and is commonly marked by fatigue, nausea, vomiting, loss of teeth and hair, and in more severe cases by damage to blood-forming tissue with decrease in red and white blood cells and with bleeding

Examples of radiation sickness in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Radiation can harm astronauts' health and cause radiation sickness, as well as disturb radio and electronic communications. —Devika Rao, theweek, 28 May 2024

In the film, it’s suggested that the ISS might be storing a cure to radiation sickness that could be helpful in the aftermath of a nuclear war. —Rebecca Heilweil, WIRED, 23 Jan. 2024

Higher doses can also cause near-term risks to life in the form of acute radiation sickness, initially resulting in nausea, vomiting, fever and headaches. —Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 3 May 2023

Five workers at the scrapyard, who opened the cylinder, and four waste collectors, who removed the cylinder, ended up in hospital with radiation sickness. —Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz, 16 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

radiation sickness

noun

: sickness that results from exposure to radiation and is commonly marked by fatigue, nausea, vomiting, loss of teeth and hair, and in more severe cases by damage to blood-forming tissue with decrease in red and white blood cells and with bleeding