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

Those groups include people with respiratory issues such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Farooq said. —Kristen Rogers, CNN, 29 Nov. 2024

Smoking cigarettes is a leading cause of serious health conditions, including cancer, heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). —Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024

Houston, 42, has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and believes the wage package would help ease costs of treatment. —David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024

In people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), exercise capacity and respiratory function increase. —Cory Martin, Verywell Health, 1 Dec. 2024

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