Is stroke as in the illness a common or proper noun?

Answer 1

The noun 'stroke' is a commonnoun as a word for a condition caused by an interruption in the flow of blood to the brain and all other definitions of the noun.

A proper noun is the name of a specific person, place, or thing; for example:

• Stroke & Cerebrovascular Center, Trenton, NJ
• Stroke of Hope Foundation (non-profit org. for stroke victime), Yonkers, NY
• Donna Dewberry One-Stroke Brush Set (for folk art painting)
• "Stroke of Midnight", a novel by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Answer 2

"Stroke" can be both a common and a proper noun. As a common noun, it refers generally to a medical condition characterized by disrupted blood flow to the brain. As a proper noun, it can refer specifically to an individual's diagnosis of stroke or to a particular event or organization related to stroke awareness or research.