chronic

Everyday

1. A chronic illness or problem lasts a long time or keeps coming back. tree →
2. A chronic habit is one a person has had for a long time and cannot stop: «a chronic liar». tree →
3. (UK, informal) Very bad: «The film was chronic». tree →

In the lessons

In health and science lessons «chronic» illnesses like asthma or diabetes are long-lasting, opposite to «acute» ones that come suddenly and pass. In news, «chronic shortages» are problems that never go away. In British slang, «chronic» means awful. Phrases: «chronic pain», «chronic illness», «a chronic shortage», «chronically ill».

Examples

• Grandad has chronic back pain. tree →
• Asthma is a chronic illness, but medicine helps. tree →
• The town has a chronic shortage of doctors. tree →
• He is a chronic worrier and frets about everything. tree →
• My little sister is a chronic nail-biter. tree →
• That match was chronic; we lost ten nil! (UK, informal) tree →
• Chronic tiredness can be a sign that you need to see a doctor. tree →

Note

Adjective; adverb «chronically». Opposite in medicine: acute. Trap: chronic does NOT mean «very serious»; it means «long-lasting». The «ch» sounds like «k»: KRON-ik. Related: chronicle, chronology (all about time).