chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

noun

: pulmonary disease (such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis) that is characterized by chronic typically irreversible airway obstruction resulting in a slowed rate of exhalation

—abbreviation COPD

Examples of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Lynch died from cardiac arrest due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to his death certificate from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. —Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026

He was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and Patty Hocking had diabetes and suffered pain from a kneecap broken a year ago, the daughter said. —Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026

The agreement includes prescription drugs for asthma, certain cancers, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hepatitis B and C, HIV, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and Type 2 diabetes, the White House said. —Aria Bendix, NBC news, 19 Dec. 2025

According to a White House fact sheet, the drugs that will be covered include treatments for chronic conditions, including type two diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hepatitis B and C, human immunodeficiency virus and certain cancers. —Ibrahim Aksoy, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• abcs
• absentees
• addressees
• adoptees
• allottees
• amputees
• antifreeze
• appellees
• appointees
• arrestees
• artistes
• assamese

Medical Definition

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

noun

variants also chronic obstructive lung disease

: pulmonary disease (as emphysema or chronic bronchitis) that is characterized by chronic typically irreversible airway obstruction resulting in a slowed rate of exhalation

called also COPD