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
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While further validation is required before clinical deployment, researchers say the patch represents a meaningful step toward less invasive, patient-friendly diagnostics in oncology and chronic disease management.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 1 Jan. 2026
Our food choices in our thirties can impact our disease risk down the line, as shown in recent research that found those who eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains, unsaturated fats, nuts, and legumes in early adulthood are more likely to enter their seventies free of chronic diseases.
—Emma Loewe, Outside, 1 Jan. 2026
Celebrity health news dominated our feeds this year, whether because these famous men and women were confronting life-threatening illness, navigating chronic disease, or defying weight loss stigma.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 29 Dec. 2025
These projects show us what states would like to try to keep rural residents from falling even farther behind in virtually every measure of chronic disease.
—Isabella Cueto, STAT, 29 Dec. 2025
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Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 1 Jan. 2026
Our food choices in our thirties can impact our disease risk down the line, as shown in recent research that found those who eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains, unsaturated fats, nuts, and legumes in early adulthood are more likely to enter their seventies free of chronic diseases.
—Emma Loewe, Outside, 1 Jan. 2026
Celebrity health news dominated our feeds this year, whether because these famous men and women were confronting life-threatening illness, navigating chronic disease, or defying weight loss stigma.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 29 Dec. 2025
These projects show us what states would like to try to keep rural residents from falling even farther behind in virtually every measure of chronic disease.
—Isabella Cueto, STAT, 29 Dec. 2025
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 2 Jan. 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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