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
People Are Reading
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
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
First Known Use: 15th century
Definition of relapse
relapsed
;relapsing
relapser
nounExamples 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.
Circa 1534
First Known Use of relapse
circa 1534
RELAPSE Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of relapse for English Language Learners
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: the return of an illness after a period of improvement
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: a return to bad behavior that you had stopped doing
Definition of relapse for English Language Learners
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: to become ill again after a period of improvement in health
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of an illness : to return or become worse after leaving or improving for a period of time
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: to return to a bad condition, form of behavior, etc.
RELAPSE Defined for Kids
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
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
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
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
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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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