chronic
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
-
continuing for a long time; constantly recurring
-
(of a disease) developing slowly, or of long duration Compare acute
-
inveterate; habitual
a chronic smoker
-
informal
-
very bad
the play was chronic
-
very serious
he left her in a chronic condition
-
-
Relating to an illness or medical condition that is characterized by long duration or frequent recurrence. Diabetes and hypertension are chronic diseases.
-
Compare acute
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of chronic
First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin chronicus, from Greek chronikós, equivalent to chrón(os) “time” + -ikos -ic
Explanation
If you smoke a cigarette once, you've simply made a bad choice. But if you're a chronic smoker, you've been smoking for a long time and will have a hard time stopping. The word chronic is used to describe things that occur over a long period of time and, in fact, comes from the Greek word for time, khronos. If you have chronic asthma, it is a recurring health issue for you. No one likes a chronic liar! A problem that cannot be solved can also be called chronic - think of the chronic food shortages in certain parts of the world.
Vocabulary lists containing chronic
List 2
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
It's About Time: Chron and Temp
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
100 SAT words Beginning with "C"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Statewide data show that students experiencing homelessness have among the highest rates of chronic absenteeism at about 35%, far above the state figure of 19%.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
BBC News presenter Maryam Moshiri has shared more detail about her two years living with cancer, and the way the chronic disease will affect the rest of her life.
From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026
Phase 2a provides limited evidence on chronic exposure, and longer treatment could reveal safety or tolerability limitations, Citi said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026
The European Society of Cardiology has issued its first guidelines dedicated to managing cardiovascular disease alongside chronic kidney disease, developed in partnership with the European Renal Association.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 6, 2026
They were used now to stomach-aches and a sort of chronic diarrhoea.
From "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding
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.
