chronic fatigue syndrome

noun

: a disorder of unknown cause that is characterized by persistent profound fatigue usually accompanied by other symptoms (such as headache and tender lymph nodes) unrelated to any preexisting medical condition

—abbreviation CFS

Examples of chronic fatigue syndrome in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Around 22% of long Covid patients are unemployed and unable to work due to chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalomyelitis and brain fog. —Anuradha Varanasi, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024

Illnesses and conditions like the flu, autoimmune disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia can all raise your risk of experiencing pain. —Heidi Cope, Health, 17 Aug. 2024

And Nath notes that rituximab, a drug that depletes antibody-producing B cells, wasn’t effective in a study of myalgic encephalomyelitis–chronic fatigue syndrome—another chronic illness thought to arise after an infection. —Byjennifer Couzin-Frankel, science.org, 21 June 2024

Wright has also been open about her struggles with chronic fatigue syndrome and has been one of the few athletes in the world of surfing to use her sport as a site to protest violence against Black and brown people, including First Nations people in Australia. —Frankie De La Cretaz, Them, 25 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

chronic fatigue syndrome

noun

: a disorder of uncertain cause that is characterized by persistent profound fatigue usually accompanied by impairment in short-term memory or concentration, sore throat, tender lymph nodes, muscle or joint pain, and headache unrelated to any preexisting medical condition and that typically has an onset at about 30 years of age

—abbreviation CFS

called also myalgic encephalomyelitis