recurrence
noun
re·cur·rence
ri-ˈkər-ən(t)s 
-ˈkə-rən(t)s
plural recurrences
: a new occurrence of something that happened or appeared before : a repeated occurrence
Scientists are working to lower the disease's rate of recurrence.
Long-term drug therapy is associated with frequent recurrences and adverse effects, however.—
Melvin M. Scheinman
Melvin M. ScheinmanThe hypoallergenic diet is restored until the itching and scratching again disappear, following which potential allergens from the original diet are restored sequentially, one by one, into the dog's meals and the owner looks for indications of the allergy's recurrence.—Tom Ewing
Tom EwingAs a familiar shape its exact meaning may have been lost to some of the craftsmen who used it; however, its recurrence on a whole group of gravestones in Davidson County, North Carolina, suggests an association there with hope, rebirth, and the cycle of life and death.—Jessie Poesch
Jessie PoeschThe shortage is a result of a decline in Treasury issuance as well as banks' strengthening their balance sheets in preparation for rules designed to prevent a recurrence of the 2008 financial crisis.—Peter Coy and Liz Capo McCormick
Peter Coy and Liz Capo McCormickExamples of recurrence in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In addition, for almost two years, his wife, Deltah, drove Henard to Childress every Tuesday for infusions of Keytruda, an immune checkpoint inhibitor used to prevent recurrence of disease by attacking stray cancer cells that may still be circulating in the body.
—Caleb Hellerman, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2026
Estefan's team checks for any cancer recurrence, and his transplant team confirms that his new liver is functioning well.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
Two Bills That Could Change Everything Addressing this crisis — and preventing recurrence — requires two specific legislative actions.
—Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2026
McKeon, for one, is now on vaginal estrogen, a type of local hormone therapy that doesn’t enter the bloodstream—and therefore won’t up her risk of cancer recurrence—but can restore vaginal softness and moisture.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for recurrence
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Caleb Hellerman, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2026
Estefan's team checks for any cancer recurrence, and his transplant team confirms that his new liver is functioning well.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
Two Bills That Could Change Everything Addressing this crisis — and preventing recurrence — requires two specific legislative actions.
—Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2026
McKeon, for one, is now on vaginal estrogen, a type of local hormone therapy that doesn’t enter the bloodstream—and therefore won’t up her risk of cancer recurrence—but can restore vaginal softness and moisture.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for recurrence
Cite this Entry
“Recurrence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recurrence. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
recurrence
noun
re·cur·rence
ri-ˈkər-ən(t)s, -ˈkə-rən(t)s
1
: return of symptoms of a disease after a remission
2
: reappearance of a tumor after previous removal
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