chronic
Americanadjective
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continuing for a long time; constantly recurring
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(of a disease) developing slowly, or of long duration Compare acute
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inveterate; habitual
a chronic smoker
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informal
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very bad
the play was chronic
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very serious
he left her in a chronic condition
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Relating to an illness or medical condition that is characterized by long duration or frequent recurrence. Diabetes and hypertension are chronic diseases.
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Compare acute
Other Word Forms
- chronically adverb
- chronicity noun
- nonchronic adjective
- nonchronical adjective
- subchronic adjective
- subchronical adjective
- unchronic adjective
Etymology
Origin of chronic
First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin chronicus, from Greek chronikós, equivalent to chrón(os) “time” + -ikos -ic
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ultrasounds of his veins showed that the president has “chronic venous insufficiency,” according to a memo.
“It helps them process chronic stress and unprocessed trauma,” she says.
From Los Angeles Times
Despite years of industry leaders vocalizing a need for greater diversity in executive suites and decision-making roles, and the chronic inequity remaining a punchline for award show jokes, the climate has changed.
From Los Angeles Times
In humans, these mutations are linked to chronic inflammation, a higher risk of blood cancers, and even cardiovascular disease.
From Science Daily
Stimulant medications may appear to help by imitating some effects of adequate sleep, while still leaving children exposed to the long term harms of chronic sleep loss.
From Science Daily
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
