chronic

[ kron-ik ]

adjective

1. constant; habitual; inveterate:

   a chronic liar.

   Synonyms: hardened, confirmed

2. continuing a long time or recurring frequently:

   a chronic state of civil war.

3. having long had a disease, habit, weakness, or the like:

   a chronic invalid.

4. (of a disease) having long duration ( acute ).

noun

1. Slang. cronic ( def ).

chronic

/ krɒˈnɪsɪtɪ; ˈkrɒnɪk /

adjective

1. continuing for a long time; constantly recurring
2. (of a disease) developing slowly, or of long duration Compare acute
3. inveterate; habitual

   a chronic smoker

4. informal.
   1. very bad

      the play was chronic

   2. very serious

      he left her in a chronic condition

chronic

/ krŏn′ĭk /

1. Relating to an illness or medical condition that is characterized by long duration or frequent recurrence. Diabetes and hypertension are chronic diseases.
2. Compare acute

Derived Forms

• chronicity, noun
• ˈchronically, adverb

Other Words From

• chron·i·cal·ly adverb
• chro·nic·i·ty [kro-, nis, -i-tee], noun
• non·chron·ic adjective
• non·chron·i·cal adjective
• sub·chron·ic adjective
• sub·chron·i·cal adjective
• un·chron·ic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chronic¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin chronicus, from Greek chronikós, equivalent to chrón(os) “time” + -ikos -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of chronic¹

C15: from Latin chronicus relating to time, from Greek khronikos, from khronos time

Example Sentences

Holly, now 26, has chronic pain and hypermobility syndrome and is one of a number of disabled women who have spoken out to challenge negative stereotypes and stigma when it comes to dating and relationships.

From BBC

In a district dogged by declining enrollment and chronic absenteeism and focused on overcoming pandemic academic setbacks, parents have viewed the accelerated programs as successful bright spots.

From Los Angeles Times

The West African nation is ruled by the military, who seized power almost three years ago promising to end the chronic insecurity that has forced two million people from their homes.

From BBC

Wiles, 67, is one of Pat and Kathy Summerall’s three children and her father credited her with prompting him to check into the Betty Ford Clinic for treatment of his chronic alcoholism.

From Los Angeles Times

In an interview with NPR on Wednesday, Kennedy said Trump had already assigned him three tasks: to reduce the “corruption and conflicts” in regulatory agencies like the FDA, return those agencies to the “evidence-based science and medicine that they were once famous for,” and to end chronic disease with measurable impacts within two years.

From Salon

Related Words

• constant
• continual
• continuing
• continuous
• deep-rooted
• deep-seated
• habitual
• incurable
• lifelong
• lingering
• persistent
• protracted
• recurrent
• recurring
• sustained