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syndrome

[sin-drohm, -druh m]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR syndrome ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Pathology, Psychiatry. a group of symptoms that together are characteristic of a specific disorder, disease, or the like.
a group of related or coincident things, events, actions, etc.
the pattern of symptoms that characterize or indicate a particular social condition.
a predictable, characteristic pattern of behavior, action, etc., that tends to occur under certain circumstances: the retirement syndrome of endless golf and bridge games; the feast-or-famine syndrome of big business.

Origin of syndrome

1535–45; < New Latin < Greek syndromḗ concurrence, combination, equivalent to syn- syn- + drom-, base meaning “run” (see -drome) + -ē feminine noun suffix
Related formssyn·drom·ic [sin-drom-ik] /sɪnˈdrɒm ɪk/, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for syndrome

malady, problem, disorder, ailment, sickness, complaint, sign, complex, infirmity, affection, diagnostics

Examples from the Web for syndrome

Contemporary Examples of syndrome

Historical Examples of syndrome

  • This is the classical "damned if you do and damned if you don't" syndrome.

    Shock and Awe

    Harlan K. Ullman

  • We are in the classical "damned if we do and damned if we don't" syndrome.

    Shock and Awe

    Harlan K. Ullman

  • "Which may very well be considered part of your syndrome," said Goil.

    Jack of No Trades

    Charles Cottrell

  • But always—always the synergism, syndrome, or whatever you want to call it, is the same.

    Jack of No Trades

    Charles Cottrell

  • This is the syndrome which the medical student is taught to carry away to guide him in his everyday practice.

    Scurvy Past and Present

    Alfred Fabian Hess

British Dictionary definitions for syndrome

syndrome

noun

med any combination of signs and symptoms that are indicative of a particular disease or disorder
a symptom, characteristic, or set of symptoms or characteristics indicating the existence of a condition, problem, etc
Derived Formssyndromic (sɪnˈdrɒmɪk), adjective

Word Origin for syndrome

C16: via New Latin from Greek sundromē, literally: a running together, from syn- + dramein to run
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for syndrome
n.

"a number of symptoms occurring together," 1540s, from Modern Latin, from Greek syndrome "concurrence of symptoms, concourse," from syndromos, literally "running together," from syn- "with" (see syn-) + dromos "running, course" (see dromedary). Psychological sense is from 1955.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
syndrome in Medicine

syndrome

[sĭn′drōm′]

n.

A group of symptoms that collectively indicate or characterize a disease, a psychological disorder, or another abnormal condition.
Related formssyn•drom′ic (-drō′mĭk, -drŏm′ĭk) adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
syndrome in Science

syndrome

[sĭn′drōm′]

An abnormal condition or disease that is identified by an established group of signs and symptoms.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
syndrome in Culture

syndrome

[(sin-drohm)]

A set of signs and symptoms that appear together and characterize a disease or medical condition. AIDS is an example of a syndrome.

Note

A collection of attitudes or behaviors that go together is often called a syndrome.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.