chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

noun

: pulmonary disease (such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis) that is characterized by chronic typically irreversible airway obstruction resulting in a slowed rate of exhalation

—abbreviation COPD

Examples of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Members of sensitive groups for particle pollution include people with heart or lung disease, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, older adults and children. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025

The conditions treated by these drugs include diabetes, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and schizophrenia. —Joseph Choi, The Hill, 17 Jan. 2025

The next costliest was GSK's asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease medication Trelegy Ellipta, at around $5.1 billion. —Alexander Tin, CBS News, 17 Jan. 2025

While healthy people can have reactions to particulate matter, those with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, are most sensitive to it. —Emily Mullin, WIRED, 10 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

noun

variants also chronic obstructive lung disease

: pulmonary disease (as emphysema or chronic bronchitis) that is characterized by chronic typically irreversible airway obstruction resulting in a slowed rate of exhalation

called also COPD