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Chronic

Chronic refers to something that continues over an extended period of time. A chronic condition is usually long-lasting and does not easily or quickly go away.

Chronic is the opposite of acute.

References

Taber's Medical Dictionary Online website. www.tabers.com/tabersonline. Accessed April 15, 2021.

Review Date 1/16/2021

Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.