chronic disease
noun
plural chronic diseases
: a disease (such as asthma, coronary heart disease, or diabetes) that continues or occurs again and again for a long time : a medical condition of prolonged duration
… childhood obesity that too often leads to chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure.—
Akiba Solomon
Akiba SolomonMost oncologists are reluctant to use the word "cure," and tend to speak of cancer as a chronic disease. The goal of treatment is remission, a state in which the cancer can't be detected.—Sallie Tisdale
Sallie TisdaleMore than 2,200 local doctors had voluntarily provided free care to uninsured patients, including surgery, chemotherapy and chronic disease management.—The Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Morning NewsExamples of chronic disease in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Doctors are also able to see patients virtually to deal with chronic disease management, Gainer says.
—Alana Semuels, Time, 30 Sep. 2025
Their health care system faces less chronic disease.
—Tom Frieden, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025
Many oncologists now describe metastatic breast cancer as a manageable chronic disease, closer in spirit to conditions like diabetes or heart disease than the uniformly terminal illness it was once considered.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 24 Sep. 2025
Key Takeaways Pumpkin is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support immunity, eye and skin health, and may help prevent chronic diseases.
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chronic disease
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Alana Semuels, Time, 30 Sep. 2025
Their health care system faces less chronic disease.
—Tom Frieden, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025
Many oncologists now describe metastatic breast cancer as a manageable chronic disease, closer in spirit to conditions like diabetes or heart disease than the uniformly terminal illness it was once considered.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 24 Sep. 2025
Key Takeaways Pumpkin is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support immunity, eye and skin health, and may help prevent chronic diseases.
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chronic disease
Cite this Entry
“Chronic disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chronic%20disease. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
chronic disease
noun
: a disease (such as asthma, coronary heart disease, or diabetes) that continues or occurs again and again for a long time : a medical condition of prolonged duration
Millions suffer from debilitating chronic disease caused by smoking. It is a major risk factor in cardiovascular disease, chronic bronchitis and emphysema …—Phil Gunby, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Phil Gunby, The Journal of the American Medical AssociationLove words? Need even more definitions?
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