indisposed

Indisposed is an adjective meaning temporarily unable to participate or perform an action, usually because of illness or a minor health issue. In contemporary usage it functions as a polite or formal way to say one is not feeling well, rather than giving a specific medical diagnosis. The term is commonly found in professional correspondence and formal notices, where a direct statement of illness might be considered too blunt.

Etymology and nuance: Indisposed derives from in- (not) + disposed (inclined or ready), with the sense evolving from not being disposed to act to a temporary incapacity due to health. In modern English the health sense is predominant, though older or more literary uses can describe reluctance or unwillingness. The form indisposition, meaning a mild illness or a temporary condition, is related.

Usage notes: Indisposed is typically used in first person or third person in formal contexts: "I am indisposed and cannot attend," or "The director was indisposed and canceled the meeting." It is not a precise medical term and should not be used to substitute for a diagnosis. The noun indisposition can denote a mild health issue or a general state of not feeling well, as in "a brief indisposition."

Related terms: unwell, ill, sick, ailing; synonyms more formal or archaic include indisposed and indisposition. The opposite concepts are healthy or well. In everyday writing, indisposed conveys courtesy and privacy when reporting an absence or inability to participate.