ailing
adjective C1
Plain meaning
weak, unhealthy, or in trouble
Exam-register meaning
experiencing serious difficulty, often used for economies, institutions, or health systems
In context
naturalThe ailing dog was taken to the vet.
examThe government introduced reforms to support the country’s ailing public healthcare system.
Common collocations
ailing economyailing industryailing health system
Watch out
Do not use it for a small, temporary problem; “ailing” suggests serious weakness or decline.
Word family
ail (verb)ailing (adjective)ailment (noun)