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.
Estimates of chronic disease rates among U.S. children vary depending on the definition and source, with USA Today reporting the percentage may fall between 10 and 50 percent. Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 23 May 2025 Clinical trials and studies looking at chronic disease prevention and ways to help people access healthy foods have been cut in the Administration’s slashing of grants from the U.S. National Institutes of Health and other sources, adds Makarem. Alana Semuels, Time, 22 May 2025 The admonition from the senator, Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, came as President Trump was preparing to release a report on Thursday from a commission, led by Mr. Kennedy and named for his movement, to examine the causes of childhood chronic disease. Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times, 21 May 2025 Other studies have shown that diets high in fiber can have a positive impact on outcomes, such as diabetes and other chronic diseases, said Dr. Gül Bahtiyar, chief of the division of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at NYC Health+Hospitals/Woodhull. Linda Carroll, NBC news, 16 May 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Chronic disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chronic%20disease. Accessed 4 Jun. 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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