ILS

1. abbreviationinitialismclassicsInitialism of Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae.

plural ILSs

1. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountableaeronauticsInitialism of instrument landing system.
2. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountableInitialism of integrated logistic support.
3. abbreviationcountableinitialismuncountableInitialism of integrated library system.
4. abbreviationcountablederogatoryhumorousinitialismuncountableInitialism of imaginary lat syndrome /invisible lat syndrome.

   ILS, or Imaginary Lat Syndrome, became popular in the late 1980s when pro wrestling peaked and every guy wanted to be like Hulk Hogan.

   2017, Andrew Ginsburg, Pumping Irony: How to Build Muscle, Lose Weight, and Have the Last Laugh, Skyhorse Publishing, →ISBN

   5 more examples

   A week has gone by and i^([sic]) still like a skinny guy wearing a Powerhouse gym sweatshirt suffering from acute ILS (Invisible Lat Syndrome....).

   1993 January 11, Aleck H Alexopoulos, “Vanadyl Sulphate: An experiment”, in misc.fitness (Usenet), archived from the original on 15 Jul 2025

   Neophytes, for example, risk being ridiculed by other gym members if they walk this way: ‘Aghh, look at him! He’s got ILS [Imaginary Lat Syndrome]’.

   2001, Lee F. Monaghan, Bodybuilding, Drugs and Risk, London; New York, N.Y.: Routledge, →ISBN, page 42

   Weight lifting is awesome when done properly. However, doing a limited range of movement (chopping your reps short of full extension) over a prolonged period of time can create shortened muscles. This is commonly seen with “ILS” and “MAS”. The “Invisible Lat Syndrome” and “Monkey Arm Syndrome” are where the person walks around like they are carrying a beer keg under each arm.

   2002, Ray Burton, “That Which Doesn’t Bend, Breaks!”, in Branda Moen, editor, Fat to Fit: Your Complete Guide to Losing Weight and Getting Fit, Canada: buildingbodies, →ISBN, “The Basics of Working Out and Your First Routine” section, page 41

   You see, I have always been a short, stocky, muscle bound guy. Hours upon hours in the weight room have contributed to stiff rigid movements, limited flexibility, and extended suffering of the condition of ILS (Invisible Lat Syndrome – walking with my arms out wide to make me look bigger).

   2011, Jayson Krause, “Stranger 12”, in 52 People: Connecting with Life Through Strangers, [Okotoks, Alta.]: Driven By Passion Press, →ISBN, page 58

   1. ILS, or Invisible Lat Syndrome / This severe ailment is considered by many to be one of the worst physical deformities of all time. If you've ever seen an average guy walk around the gym looking like he's got invisible braces holding up his arms, then you're probably witnessing a terrible case of "invisible lat syndrome."

   2018 April 26, Tim Kirkpatrick, “5 of the stupidest diseases you can develop at the gym”, in We Are The Mighty, Palo Alto, Calif.: Mighty Networks, archived from the original on 27 Apr 2018

1. pluralplural of IL