long COVID

noun

variants or less commonly long COVID-19 or long-haul COVID or long-haul COVID-19
: a condition that is marked by the presence of symptoms (such as fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, headache, or brain fog) which persist for an extended period of time (such as weeks or months) following a person's initial recovery from COVID-19 infection : post-covid syndrome
The sickest COVID-19 patients are not the only ones to suffer from long COVID. Patients who had a milder initial case that didn't result in hospitalization can also have persistent symptoms.Stephanie LaVergne
Because of the growing number of long COVID patients, more hospitals are creating outpatient clinics with multiple specialists or expanding centers that initially focused only on patients leaving intensive care units.Meredith Cohn
Ceresa is one of a growing number of COVID-19 survivors with serious symptoms that last far beyond the acute infection with the virus. Some of these patients, often referred to as 'long-haulers' or people with long COVID-19 … are receiving treatment at … clinics like the one at Mount Sinai.Kevin Loria
long-haul COVID-19 refers to the ongoing adverse health effects of coronavirus infection, which can last for weeks, and even months, after the initial phase of their illness has passed.Eve Glazier and Elizabeth Ko

Examples of long COVID in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania recently found that long COVID patients had different levels of chemicals in their body compared to those who had recovered, the most significant of which were levels of serotonin. Dr. Krupa Patel, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2023 How long COVID vaccine side effects last can vary, lasting only a few hours to a couple of days. Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 23 Oct. 2023 Businesses’ difficulty hiring has been blamed on a gamut of ills: Too-generous unemployment benefits; too many stimulus checks; not enough immigration; too many workers with long COVID, and, finally, simple laziness. Byirina Ivanova, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2023 In this Guardian piece about chronic pain and long COVID, Linda Geddes explores the growing realization that pain can be a disease in and of itself, one that the pandemic may have worsened. Laura Newberry, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2023 Tamika Samson is among the newer wave of long COVID patients. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Aug. 2023 While thought to be less common, long COVID from later strains may feature important differences. Byerin Prater, Fortune Well, 21 Aug. 2023 In addition to long COVID and ME/CFS, chronic Lyme disease, multiple sclerosis and autoimmune diseases such as lupus affect women more often. Emily Mendenhall, Scientific American, 10 Nov. 2023 What This Means For You More research is needed on the topic of gut health and long COVID, but there appears to be a connection. Andrea Michelson, Verywell Health, 31 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'long COVID.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

2020, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of long COVID was in 2020

Dictionary Entries Near long COVID

Cite this Entry

“Long COVID.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/long%20COVID. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.

Medical Definition

long COVID

noun
variants also long COVID-19 or long-haul COVID or long-haul COVID-19
: a condition that is marked by the presence of symptoms (such as fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, headache, or brain fog) which persist for an extended period of time (such as weeks or months) following a person's initial recovery from COVID-19 infection : post-covid syndrome
… there's no clear way to diagnose long COVID and no standard treatment protocol. Some long haulers feel better after a couple of weeks following the initial infection, but then fall ill to old or even new disease-related symptoms that may affect multiple organs and systems weeks or months later. For others … their symptoms never fully abate after the initial infection; they just linger.Melba Newsome, Charlotte (North Carolina) Observer
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is set to release interim guidance for physicians treating patients with long COVID-19Congressional Quarterly News
long-haul COVID-19 refers to the ongoing adverse health effects of coronavirus infection, which can last for weeks, and even months, after the initial phase of their illness has passed.Eve Glazier and Elizabeth Ko, Chicago Daily Herald
Long-haul COVID patients tend to exhibit the kinds of symptoms about which disability case reviewers have historically been skeptical, if not downright hostile. These include chronic fatigue, nonspecific body and nerve pain, headaches and persistent confusion known as "brain fog."Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!