chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

American

noun

Pathology.

any of various lung diseases leading to poor pulmonary aeration, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. COPD

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Scientific

Any of several pulmonary diseases, especially emphysema, in which chronic airway obstruction causes respiratory abnormalities, including shortness of breath.

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.

“We have 55 pathways available” for different treatments, Dr. Mansi says, including pulmonary embolism, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

The former carer and assistant social worker had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease meaning she sometimes needed to use oxygen tanks.

From BBC • Feb. 21, 2026

"We are knowingly sacrificing people here to cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma," he told AFP.

From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026

For decades, he suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2026

Earlier this year, Merck acquired Verona Pharma — which sells a drug for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease called Ohtuvayre — for $10 billion.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 14, 2025

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023