chronic fatigue syndrome

noun

|Updated on: 15 Jun 2018

Definition of chronic fatigue syndrome

: a disorder of unknown cause that is characterized by persistent profound fatigue usually accompanied by other symptoms (such as headache and tender lymph nodes) unrelated to any preexisting medical condition —abbreviation CFS

See chronic fatigue syndrome defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of chronic fatigue syndrome from the Web

For example, if you were previously diagnosed with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, you will be excluded.

— rafal tokarz, Health.com, "The Lyme Disease Complication You Don't Know About—But Should," 31 May 2018
Let’s say your friend has chronic fatigue syndrome and is having a hard time with ever-present exhaustion.

— carolyn l. todd, SELF, "How to Support a Friend Who’s Just Been Diagnosed With a Chronic Illness," 23 May 2018
Yet it was given what many advocates say is a misleading set of diagnostic criteria and a trivializing name, chronic fatigue syndrome, by researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control 30 years ago.

— megan doherty, Chicago Reader, "ME myalgic encephalomyelitis chronic fatigue syndrome CFS Millions Missing Depaul University CDC," 10 May 2018
Jennifer Brea self-directed a documentary, now streaming on the service, from hers, offering up a stunning glimpse of life with myalgic encephalomyelitis, the mysterious illness better known as ME, or chronic fatigue syndrome.

— Vogue, "This New Documentary on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a Must-See—and Not for the Reason You Think," 17 Jan. 2018
This documentary from Jennifer Brea is about chronic fatigue syndrome, a condition that hasn’t been fully accepted by the medical world but that affects millions of people.

— gabe cohn, New York Times, "What’s on TV Saturday: ‘Step Sisters’ and ‘The Number on Great-Grandpa’s Arm’," 27 Jan. 2018
Suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, Barron began studying how diet might ease her symptoms.

— liz biro, Indianapolis Star, "10 women who are absolutely killing it at Indianapolis restaurants," 7 Mar. 2018
When his wife was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome several years ago they were advised to find a sunnier climate.

— mark rogers, USA TODAY, "Ajijic: Mexico’s expat paradise on the lake," 22 Jan. 2018
Some doctors have used the infusions to treat chronic conditions, such as asthma attacks, migraines, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, acute muscle spasm, sinusitis and allergies.

— andrea k. mcdaniels, baltimoresun.com, "Gwyneth Paltrow does it. But do you really need a vitamin IV?," 15 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chronic fatigue syndrome.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of chronic fatigue syndrome

1947

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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