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Glite Dictionary
industrial disease

industrial disease

1 5.7
A disease caused by harmful work conditions, like dust or chemicals
  • noun
  • /ɪnˈdʌstriəl dɪˈziːz/
  • UK
translation icon : enfermedad profesional
  • Many factory workers suffer from industrial disease due to their long exposure to harmful chemicals.

Examples

  • - Industrial disease.

    Contagion (2011)

  • The company implemented safety measures to reduce the risk of industrial disease among its employees.

  • Studies show a significant increase in industrial disease cases among those who have worked in construction for over ten years.

Synonyms

occupational disease
vsindustrial disease
  • Specialized
1 3.9

Illness workers get from harmful conditions at work, often after a long time

includes harm from repetitive job tasks and resulting long-term disability

Antonyms

health
∞ 1.0

The condition of a person's body and mind, especially being free from illness or injury

wellness
52 3.2

Good physical and mental health that people try to keep

How Serious

industrial disease
  • UK
1 5.7
discomfort
119 3.2

Surface Forms

industrial disease singular
industrial diseases plural

Morphology

industrial + disease

The meaning 'a disease caused by conditions of employment' is directly derivable from 'industrial' (relating to industry/work) + 'disease' (an illness); the adjective+noun composition transparently signals the type or source of the illness. This is a common compositional pattern across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can be expected to infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Industrial disease comes from the picture of old factories and mines where the industrial work — with dust, smoke or chemicals — gave workers a long-lasting disease. So today it means 'a disease caused by work' or by bad conditions at a workplace.