chronic disease

noun

plural chronic diseases
: a disease (such as asthma, coronary heart disease, or diabetes) that continues or occurs again and again for a long time : a medical condition of prolonged duration
… childhood obesity that too often leads to chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure.Akiba Solomon
Most oncologists are reluctant to use the word "cure," and tend to speak of cancer as a chronic disease. The goal of treatment is remission, a state in which the cancer can't be detected.Sallie Tisdale
More than 2,200 local doctors had voluntarily provided free care to uninsured patients, including surgery, chemotherapy and chronic disease management.The Dallas Morning News

Examples of chronic disease in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The consequences of these issues are far-reaching: • Health Disparities: Healthcare deserts often correlate with higher rates of chronic diseases, preventable hospitalizations and overall poorer health outcomes. Jesse Corn, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025 Several of the staple foods included in the Okinawa diet have anti-inflammatory properties that may lower the risk of chronic diseases. Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 1 Jan. 2025 Turmeric for Weight Loss Not only can turmeric separately reduce chronic diseases like arthritis and cardiovascular disease, but it’s also been shown to aid in weight loss and reduce obesity, which can separately lead to a reduction in the risk of chronic diseases. Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 24 Dec. 2024 The immune system is also implicated in some chronic diseases. Katia Hetter, CNN, 19 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for chronic disease 

Word History

First Known Use

1662, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chronic disease was in 1662

Dictionary Entries Near chronic disease

Cite this Entry

“Chronic disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chronic%20disease. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.

Medical Definition

chronic disease

noun
: a disease (such as asthma, coronary heart disease, or diabetes) that continues or occurs again and again for a long time : a medical condition of prolonged duration
Millions suffer from debilitating chronic disease caused by smoking. It is a major risk factor in cardiovascular disease, chronic bronchitis and emphysema …Phil Gunby, The Journal of the American Medical Association
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