relapse

1 of 2

noun

re·​lapse ri-ˈlaps  ˈrē-ˌlaps 

1

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

2

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

relapse

2 of 2

verb

re·​lapse ri-ˈlaps 

relapsed; relapsing

intransitive verb

1

: to slip or fall back into a former worse state

2

: sink, subside

relapse into deep thought

relapser noun

Examples of relapse in a Sentence

Noun

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

Verb

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 on the Web

Noun

Some patients experience dramatic relapses, others a slow and steady decline. —Jason Phillips, USA Today, 17 May 2025

Following his first two relapses at HealthRight’s detox facility, he was transferred to a men’s residential treatment building, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. —Julia Marnin, Sacbee.com, 2 Apr. 2025

Verb

The financial strain proved too much and Johnson relapsed again. —Greta Cross, USA Today, 22 May 2025

However, 70 percent of patients relapse within the first year. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 9 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for relapse

• bitmaps
• bootstraps
• collapse
• elapse
• mishaps
• perhaps
• prolapse
• satraps
• wiretaps
• apps
• caps
• chaps

Kids Definition

relapse

1 of 2 noun

re·​lapse ri-ˈlaps  ˈrē-ˌlaps 

: a relapsing

especially : a recurrence of illness after a period of improvement

relapse

2 of 2 verb

re·​lapse ri-ˈlaps 

relapsed; relapsing

: to slip or fall back into a former worse state

relapser noun

Medical Definition

relapse

1 of 2 noun

re·​lapse ri-ˈlaps  ˈrē-ˌ 

: 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

2 of 2 intransitive verb

re·​lapse ri-ˈlaps 

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