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
Akiba SolomonMost 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
Sallie TisdaleMore than 2,200 local doctors had voluntarily provided free care to uninsured patients, including surgery, chemotherapy and chronic disease management.—The Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Morning NewsExamples of chronic disease in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But perhaps less glamorous and much more important to the longevity game is tackling chronic disease.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
The resulting glut of insulin can inflame tissues all across the body, and over time, this can weaken the immune system and contribute to all manner of chronic diseases, including cancer and heart disease.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 2 May 2026
Kennedy said in a social media post that her experience with breast cancer patients and early detection will help the Republican administration take on the chronic disease epidemic.
—Ali Swenson, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
There may be some truth to that, as new research explains how coffee helps protect against aging and chronic disease.
—Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for chronic disease
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Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
The resulting glut of insulin can inflame tissues all across the body, and over time, this can weaken the immune system and contribute to all manner of chronic diseases, including cancer and heart disease.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 2 May 2026
Kennedy said in a social media post that her experience with breast cancer patients and early detection will help the Republican administration take on the chronic disease epidemic.
—Ali Swenson, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
There may be some truth to that, as new research explains how coffee helps protect against aging and chronic disease.
—Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for chronic disease
Cite this Entry
“Chronic disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chronic%20disease. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical 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
Phil Gunby, The Journal of the American Medical AssociationLove words? Need even more definitions?
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