relapse

1 of 2

noun

re·​lapse ri-ˈlaps  ˈrē-ˌlaps 

1

: the act or an instance of backsliding, worsening, or subsiding

2

: a recurrence of symptoms of a disease after a period of improvement

relapse

2 of 2

verb

re·​lapse ri-ˈlaps 

relapsed; relapsing

intransitive verb

1

: to slip or fall back into a former worse state

2

: sink, subside

relapse into deep thought

relapser noun

Examples of relapse in a Sentence

Noun

Everyone thought she was well until a sudden relapse sent her back to the hospital.

a drug addict who has had a relapse

a drug addict who has a history of relapse

Verb

If you don't continue your treatment, you could relapse.

Malaria can relapse years after the original infection.

The country soon relapsed into chaos.

She stayed out of trouble for a long time, but then she relapsed into her old ways.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

These results suggest there are potential bodily challenges associated with abstinence that contribute to relapses in alcohol use disorder. — Marie Doyle, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2026

Abstinence, too, was a primary goal, though the toolkit made clear that relapse should be treated as a setback but not necessarily a failure, and that recovery is not necessarily linear. — Lev Facher, STAT, 12 Aug. 2026

Verb

Around 2016, Moore and her children became estranged for three years when the actress relapsed with substance abuse. — Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 12 Aug. 2026

The illness can last anywhere from days to over a month if untreated, and symptoms could relapse one or more times after a person feels better. — Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Medieval Latin relapsus, from Latin relabi to slide back, from re- + labi to slide — more at sleep

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for relapse

• bitmaps
• bootstraps
• collapse
• elapse
• mishaps
• perhaps
• prolapse
• satraps
• wiretaps
• apps
• caps
• chaps

Kids Definition

relapse

1 of 2 noun

re·​lapse ri-ˈlaps  ˈrē-ˌlaps 

: a relapsing

especially : a recurrence of illness after a period of improvement

relapse

2 of 2 verb

re·​lapse ri-ˈlaps 

relapsed; relapsing

: to slip or fall back into a former worse state

relapser noun

Medical Definition

relapse

1 of 2 noun

re·​lapse ri-ˈlaps  ˈrē-ˌ 

: a recurrence of illness

especially : a recurrence of symptoms of a disease after a period of improvement

a relapse after an 18-month remission

—M. T. Fosburg et al.

compare recrudescence

relapse

2 of 2 intransitive verb

re·​lapse ri-ˈlaps 

relapsed; relapsing

: to slip or fall back into a former worse state (as of illness) after a change for the better

the patient relapsed twice in four years