clinical depression

noun

: a serious mood disorder involving one or more episodes of intense psychological depression or loss of interest or pleasure that lasts two or more weeks and is accompanied by irritability, fatigue, poor concentration, sleep disturbances, weight gain or loss, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, and sometimes suicidal tendencies : major depression, major depressive disorder

Mild depression is a normal condition, a sadness brought on by life's circumstances. Clinical depression, on the other hand, is a sadness so deep that it can lead to suicide if left untreated.

—Brenda Lane Richardson

Examples of clinical depression in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Research has linked low myo-inositol levels in the brain to clinical depression. —Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 18 Apr. 2025

Moore is quirky and a little bit edgy as the cool one of the group, whose all-black wardrobe could either be a fashion statement… or a sign of clinical depression. —Katie Rife, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2025

That means higher risks for stroke, many types of cancer, premature death and mental illness such as clinical depression and anxiety. —Teri Sforza, Orange County Register, 12 Feb. 2025

Studies in adults with clinical depression found that curcumin significantly improved symptoms. —Lindsay Curtis, Health, 20 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for clinical depression

• immunosuppression
• myelosuppression
• accession
• aggression
• compression
• concession
• confession
• digression
• discretion
• expression
• impression
• obsession

Medical Definition

clinical depression

noun

: a serious mood disorder involving one or more episodes of intense psychological depression or loss of interest or pleasure that lasts two or more weeks and is accompanied by irritability, fatigue, poor concentration, sleep disturbances, weight gain or loss, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, and sometimes suicidal tendencies : major depression, major depressive disorder

Cases of clinical depression present doctors with a nasty diagnostic challenge: The malady, which strikes about 10% of the population, comes in myriad forms, each requiring different treatments.

—Science