syndrome
noun
Did you know?
Combining its two Greek roots, syndrome means basically "running together". So when diagnosing a condition or disease, doctors tend to look for a group of symptoms existing together. As long as a set of symptoms remains mysterious, it may be referred to as a specific syndrome. But if that name is used for a while, it may become the condition's permanent name, even after an underlying cause has been found. So today we have Down syndrome, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, Asperger's syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, Tourette's syndrome, sick building syndrome, and many more. And since mental conditions often turn out to have physical causes, syndrome is used in psychology as well as in medicine.
Examples of syndrome in a Sentence
Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
As Herz points out, in the more than three decades since Life Goes On ended in 1993, there has not been another actor with Down syndrome in a lead role.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2025
Turner syndrome can cause a variety of medical and developmental problems, including short height, failure of the ovaries to develop and heart defects.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2025
Wilson was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) at 21 and prescribed birth control pills to manage her symptoms.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for syndrome
Cite this Entry
“Syndrome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/syndrome. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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syndrome
noun
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