chronic fatigue syndrome

noun

Updated on: 7 Apr 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

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
In March 1980, Weisstein was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome.

— leila mcneill, Smithsonian, "This Feminist Psychologist-Turned-Rock-Star Led a Full Life of Resistance," 7 Apr. 2017
Brea was eventually diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), more commonly known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in the United States.

— maya dusenbery, Cosmopolitan, "Millions of Women Suffer From a Disease That Virtually Sucks the Life Out of Them — But Doctors Still Don’t Take It Seriously," 4 Oct. 2017
In a Canadian study, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome led to moderate or severe household food insecurity at rates far higher than other chronic conditions like diabetes, cancer, mood disorders, or heart disease.

— leah vincent, The Cut, "Me, Lady Gaga, and the Medical Establishment That Failed Us Both," 27 Sep. 2017
Reconnecting with a colleague from his art director days — and learning the friend, Michael Van Huffel, was in an expensive battle against chronic fatigue syndrome — pushed Parke to do it.

— wesley case, baltimoresun.com, "'Picturing Prince' book from Baltimore photographer offers rare glimpse of an enigmatic artist," 7 Sep. 2017

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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