chronic disease
noun
plural chronic diseases
: a disease (such as asthma, coronary heart disease, or diabetes) that continues or occurs again and again for a long time : a medical condition of prolonged duration
… childhood obesity that too often leads to chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure.—
Akiba Solomon
Akiba SolomonMost oncologists are reluctant to use the word "cure," and tend to speak of cancer as a chronic disease. The goal of treatment is remission, a state in which the cancer can't be detected.—Sallie Tisdale
Sallie TisdaleMore than 2,200 local doctors had voluntarily provided free care to uninsured patients, including surgery, chemotherapy and chronic disease management.—The Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Morning NewsExamples of chronic disease in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Asparagus Might Support Better Long-Term Glycemic Control Oxidative stress may drive the onset of many chronic diseases, including diabetes.
—Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 18 May 2026
In a statement to ABC News, an HHS spokesperson said Kennedy is advancing the MAHA agenda to confront the chronic disease epidemic head-on.
—Arthur Jones Ii, ABC News, 14 May 2026
Obesity is a chronic disease that requires attentive, specialized and compassionate care.
—Latisa S Carson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2026
That stigma stems from a lack of understanding about obesity as a chronic disease, Jorge Moreno, MD, an internal medicine and obesity medicine specialist at Yale Internal Medicine Associates, told Health.
—Julia Sullivan, Health, 14 May 2026
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Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 18 May 2026
In a statement to ABC News, an HHS spokesperson said Kennedy is advancing the MAHA agenda to confront the chronic disease epidemic head-on.
—Arthur Jones Ii, ABC News, 14 May 2026
Obesity is a chronic disease that requires attentive, specialized and compassionate care.
—Latisa S Carson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2026
That stigma stems from a lack of understanding about obesity as a chronic disease, Jorge Moreno, MD, an internal medicine and obesity medicine specialist at Yale Internal Medicine Associates, told Health.
—Julia Sullivan, Health, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for chronic disease
Cite this Entry
“Chronic disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chronic%20disease. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
chronic disease
noun
: a disease (such as asthma, coronary heart disease, or diabetes) that continues or occurs again and again for a long time : a medical condition of prolonged duration
Millions suffer from debilitating chronic disease caused by smoking. It is a major risk factor in cardiovascular disease, chronic bronchitis and emphysema …—Phil Gunby, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Phil Gunby, The Journal of the American Medical AssociationLove words? Need even more definitions?
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