chronically

[ kron-ik-lee ]

adverb

1. happening constantly or habitually:

   Nationally, millions of students are chronically absent every year.

2. happening or recurring over an extended period of time (opposed to acutely ):

   Monitoring is especially helpful for chronically ill patients wishing to avoid costly hospital stays.

   Close to 900 million people worldwide are chronically undernourished.

Other Words From

• non·chron·i·cal·ly adverb
• sub·chron·i·cal·ly adverb
• un·chron·i·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of chronically¹

chronic ( def ) + -ally ( def )

Example Sentences

A licensed healthcare professional must certify annually that your husband is chronically ill and living in the care facility due to medical necessity, he says.

From Los Angeles Times

The report said the NHS had been left chronically weakened by the policy of austerity of the 2010s and in particular a lack of investment in buildings and technology.

From BBC

Q: How do you explain to your progressive supporters that as a district attorney, you championed legislation that allowed parents of chronically truant students to be prosecuted?

From Salon

But Makala is not alone with its abysmal conditions - prisons all over the country are chronically underfunded and overcrowded.

From BBC

It involved a chronically unemployed single parent, a stopover in foster care, and lots of packing up and moving around the South.

From Salon