noun/verb · neutral
relapse
/rɪˈlæps/re·LAPSE
The return of a disease or its symptoms after a period of improvement; or to return to a previous worse condition (verb).
Examples
“There was a relapse of his symptoms three months after treatment.”
“Relapse rates for the condition are higher without proper follow-up.”
“After stopping therapy, some patients relapse into old habits.”
Band 8 sentence
“Although initial treatment was successful, a small relapse several months later is unfortunately not uncommon.”
Collocations
- relapse into
- relapse rate
- drug relapse
Word family
Common mistakes
He relapse the illness.→He had a relapse of the illness.
She relapsed to her old habit.→She relapsed into her old habit.
Say it for a higher band
5return→6recurrence→7+relapse
Synonyms
recurrence
Easily confused
recurrence
“The disease's recurrence was suspected after several symptoms returned.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Health & Fitness
Learn it with its set