use of indisposed

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi,

Can I say this:

I won’t be coming into work today because I’m indisposed

Thanks!

2

You can, but your boss would be likely to ask for more details!

If someone says they are ‘indisposed’ they frequently don’t want to reveal the detailed reason for their ‘indisposition’.

3

But doesn’t “indisposed” mean “slightly ill”?
I found its definition here: thefreedictionary.com/indisposed
Or is it too vague to strictly mean “sick”, as in “I’m sick/feeling under the weather”? I mean what kind of details will he ask me for? Will he be likely to be prying into my health problems?

Could you shed some light on this mystery, please?

4

The term his changing in meaning slightly from the original.
Here’s a better definition:
oxfordadvancedlearnersdictio … indisposed

and another, courtesy of the Google dictionary extension:
If you say that someone is indisposed, you mean that they are not available because they are ill, or for a reason that you do not want to reveal.
For example, someone with a hangover might make the excuse that they are ‘indisposed’.

Nowadays the term is not often used to explain an absence because it is considered far too vague and a bit of an excuse.

5

Thanks, Bev
Now I’m clear on the term.