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

Meanwhile another trial that was double-blind examined the use of ibogaine for reducing cocaine cravings and found fewer relapses in the drug group compared with the placebo group. —Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2026

Most people require medication to induce and maintain remission, says Dyckman, but overall diet quality may help reduce the risk of relapse. —Mark Marino, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026

Verb

Last year, the 34-year-old Alabama native — who has struggled with addiction for two decades — relapsed, leading to a brutal fight and a broken neck. —Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026

Delonte West’s Recent String of Arrests West has rebounded and relapsed several times since then. —Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026

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

1548, 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