relapse

noun re·lapse \ ri-ˈlaps , ˈrē-ˌlaps \

Updated on: 15 Apr 2018

Definition of relapse

1 : the act or an instance of backsliding, worsening, or subsiding

2 : a recurrence of symptoms of a disease after a period of improvement

See relapse defined for English-language learners

See relapse defined for kids

Examples of relapse in a Sentence

Everyone thought she was well until a sudden relapse sent her back to the hospital.
a drug addict who has had a relapse
a drug addict who has a history of relapse

Recent Examples of relapse from the Web

The relapse rate for fly-by-night or more old school operations is likely much higher.

— zachary siegel, WIRED, "Addiction Rehab is Broken. Can Technology Fix It?," 1 Apr. 2018
After his relapse, Cole has been treated with chemotherapy at St. Mary's Children's Hospital in West Palm Beach.

— alex kushel, Sun-Sentinel.com, "West Boynton LL welcomes teen battling leukemia to Opening Day," 31 Mar. 2018
Together, these members motivate each other to stay clean and strong in the face of relapse.

— jason duaine hahn, PEOPLE.com, "Recovering Addict, 29, Opens Gym to Help Others Stay Sober," 29 Mar. 2018
The plan, according to the White House spokesman, was to use Vivitrol to provide a month of reduced risk for relapse before transitioning individuals into longer-term recovery.

— lev facher, STAT, "Trump opioid plan writes in favoritism to single company’s addiction medication," 26 Mar. 2018
Over time, the rats injected with CBD showed reduced signs of relapse into addiction, even when they were exposed to stress or the cues researched had used to get them to take the drugs in the first place.

— emily price, Fortune, "Marijuana May Aid in Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery," 26 Mar. 2018
And the third is compassionate treatment for people -- evidence-based, science-based, compassionate treatment -- that can help people recover and stay away from relapse.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Read a transcript of Trump’s remarks in N.H.," 19 Mar. 2018
The Senate passed bipartisan legislation Wednesday designed to ease bank rules that were enacted to prevent a relapse of the 2008 financial crisis that caused millions of Americans to lose their jobs and homes.

— kevin freking and marcy gordon, idahostatesman, "Crapo’s big push to roll back bank restrictions clears the Senate | Idaho Statesman," 14 Mar. 2018
The Senate passed bipartisan legislation Wednesday night easing bank rules that were enacted after the financial crisis to prevent a relapse.

— CBS News, "Senate passes bill easing Dodd-Frank restrictions," 14 Mar. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of relapse

Middle English, from Medieval Latin relapsus, from Latin relabi to slide back, from re- + labi to slide — more at sleep

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

relapse

verb re·lapse \ ri-ˈlaps \

Definition of relapse

relapsed; relapsing

intransitive verb

1 : to slip or fall back into a former worse state

2 : sink, subside

relapse into deep thought

—

relapser

noun

See relapse defined for English-language learners

Examples of relapse in a Sentence

If you don't continue your treatment, you could relapse.
Malaria can relapse years after the original infection.
The country soon relapsed into chaos.
She stayed out of trouble for a long time, but then she relapsed into her old ways.

Recent Examples of relapse from the Web

It’s being used in patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow.

— bradley j. fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Poseida raises $30.5 million for cancer cell therapy," 4 Apr. 2018
In results presented late last year, five children with leukemia who were infused with the therapy went into remission, but two relapsed quickly and a third died from transplant complications.

— rebecca robbins, STAT, "Sign up for our biotech newsletter, The Readout," 3 Apr. 2018
Jane, terrified of her mother relapsing after any upcoming surgery, desperately wants Xo to choose the double mastectomy.

— refinery29.com, "You’re Doing Yourself A Disservice By Missing Last Week’s Jane The Virgin," 26 Mar. 2018
And the results indicated that Kyprolis should replace Velcade as the standard of care when a patient relapses with multiple myeloma.

— ed silverman, STAT, "Amgen employee in Denmark violated the law by posting a press release on LinkedIn," 22 Mar. 2018
Still, about half of patients will relapse six months after treatment.

— jayne o'donnell, USA TODAY, "Feds work with drugmakers to boost research into non-opioid painkillers, treatments," 21 Mar. 2018
The study involved 110 people with relapsing multiple sclerosis, a condition in which cells in the immune system start to inexplicably attack the critical covering that protects nerve cells in the spinal cord, brain and eye.

— alice park, Time, "Stem Cell Treatment Could Be a Game-Changer for People With MS," 19 Mar. 2018
A year after the treatment, only one patient who received the stem cell treatment had relapsed, compared to 39 people in the control group.

— hallie detrick, Fortune, "Doctors Say They've Found a 'Game Changing' Stem Cell Treatment for MS," 19 Mar. 2018
It is intended to help prevent relapse to opioid dependence after detox.

— brittany nader, cleveland.com, "Summa Health introduces Vivitrol Clinic for patients with opioid, alcohol dependence," 8 Dec. 2017

First Known Use of relapse

circa 1534

RELAPSE Defined for English Language Learners

relapse

noun

Definition of relapse for English Language Learners

: the return of an illness after a period of improvement
: a return to bad behavior that you had stopped doing

relapse

verb

Definition of relapse for English Language Learners

: to become ill again after a period of improvement in health
of an illness : to return or become worse after leaving or improving for a period of time
: to return to a bad condition, form of behavior, etc.

RELAPSE Defined for Kids

relapse

noun re·lapse \ ri-ˈlaps , ˈrē-ˌlaps \

Definition of relapse for Students

1 : a return of illness after a period of improvement

2 : a return to a former and undesirable state or condition

a relapse into bad habits

relapse

verb re·lapse \ ri-ˈlaps \

Definition of relapse for Students

relapsed; relapsing

: to return to a former state or condition (as of illness or bad behavior) after a change for the better

Medical Dictionary

relapse

noun re·lapse \ ri-ˈlaps , ˈrē-ˌ \

medical Definition of relapse

: a recurrence of illness; especially : a recurrence of symptoms of a disease after a period of improvement

a relapse after an 18-month remission
—M. T. Fosburg et al

— compare recrudescence

relapse

intransitive verb re·lapse \ ri-ˈlaps \

medical Definition of relapse

relapsed; relapsing

: to slip or fall back into a former worse state (as of illness) after a change for the better

the patient relapsed twice in four years

Learn More about relapse

See words that rhyme with relapse Spanish Central: Translation of relapse Nglish: Translation of relapse for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of relapse for Arabic speakers

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relapse

Definition of relapse

Examples of relapse in a Sentence

Recent Examples of relapse from the Web

Origin and Etymology of relapse

relapse

Definition of relapse

relapser

Examples of relapse in a Sentence

Recent Examples of relapse from the Web

First Known Use of relapse

RELAPSE Defined for English Language Learners

relapse

Definition of relapse for English Language Learners

relapse

Definition of relapse for English Language Learners

RELAPSE Defined for Kids

relapse

Definition of relapse for Students

relapse

Definition of relapse for Students

Medical Dictionary

relapse

medical Definition of relapse

relapse

medical Definition of relapse

Learn More about relapse

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