Definition

Noun: A register or roster that officially records the names of individuals who are currently ill or unfit for duty, typically within a confined or organized group such as a military unit, a ship's crew, or a workplace.

Usage

The term is used to refer to the official administrative document that tracks personnel who are absent due to illness. It implies a formal process of reporting and recording.

Examples: * The sergeant updated the sick list after morning inspection. * With so many crew members on the sick list, the voyage was delayed. * Management requires a doctor's note to be placed on the sick list.

Advanced Usage

• "to be on the sick list": This is the most common phrasal usage, meaning to be officially registered as ill and excused from one's duties.
  • Half the office is on the sick list with the flu.
• "to go on/come off the sick list": These phrases describe the actions of being added to or removed from the register.
  • He went on the sick list last Tuesday and is expected to come off it next week.

Variants and Related Words

• Sick leave (n): The period of time one is permitted to be absent from work due to illness.
• Medical roster (n): A similar list, often with a broader scope that can include those with injuries or undergoing treatment.
• Absentee list (n): A more general list covering all reasons for absence.

Synonyms

• Medical list
• Invalid list
• Illness roster

Notes on Meaning

This term is strongly associated with formal, institutional, or historical contexts (e.g., the military, maritime service, traditional industrial workplaces). In modern casual or corporate offices, terms like "out sick" or "on medical leave" are more common, though "sick list" is still understood.

Noun

1. a list of those who are ill (e.g. on a warship or in a regiment etc)