Disease vs Disorder
Though most of the times used synonymously, there actually exists a difference between disease and disorder. As most of us are not aware of that difference, disease and disorder have become two words that are often confused when it comes to their meanings and connotations. As mentioned earlier, there is some difference between the two words. These two words should not be interchanged. They indeed have different meanings. The word disease is normally used in the sense of sickness. On the other hand, according to the Oxford English dictionary, the word disorder is used in the sense of ‘an illness that disrupts normal physical or mental functions’. This is the main difference between the two words. The word disorder is sometimes used in the sense of ‘a state of confusion’.
What does Disease mean?
The word disease is normally used in the sense of sickness. Take a look at the following sentences.
Francis got his disease cured by the advice of the doctor.
Angela suffers from a dreadful disease.
In both the sentences, you can see that the word disease is used in the sense of ‘sickness (feeling unwell)’ Hence, the meaning of the first sentence would be ‘Francis got his sickness cured by the advice of the doctor’, and the second sentence would be rewritten as ‘Angela suffers from a dreadful sickness’. It is interesting to note that the word disease is sometimes used in the sense of ‘illness’ (being unwell in a medical sense as well)’. The word is used only as a noun.
However, disease does not only have a medical meaning. According to the Oxford English dictionary, it also means ‘a particular quality or disposition regarded as adversely affecting a person or group of people.’ For example,
The Nazis suffered from the disease of hatred towards Jews.
What does Disorder mean?
The word disorder is used in the sense of an illness that disrupts normal physical or mental functions. On the other hand, the word disorder is also used as a noun, and it has its adjectival form in the word ‘disorderly’ as in the expression ‘disorderly fashion’. Take a look at the following sentences.
Francis suffers from a peculiar mental disorder that makes him extremely claustrophobic.
Angela suffers from a rare skin disorder.
In both the sentences, you can see that the word disorder is used in the sense of ‘illness that disrupts normal physical or mental functions’. Hives is known as a skin disorder. Anemia is said to be disorder. Piles is also said to be a disorder of the human body. All these physical disorders as well as mental disorders disrupt normal physical and mental functions. That is why they are known as disorders.
Other than the medical sense, disorder is also used in the sense of ‘a state of confusion.’
After a body was discovered in the pool, the party was in disorder.
What is the difference between Disease and Disorder?
• The word disease is normally used in the sense of sickness or illness.
• On the other hand, according to the Oxford English dictionary, the word disorder is used in the sense of ‘an illness that disrupts normal physical or mental functions’.
• Disease also means a quality that is regarded as unfavourably affecting a person or a group of people.
• The word disorder is sometimes used in the sense of ‘a state of confusion’.
These are the differences between the two words, namely, disease and disorder.