chronic fatigue syndrome: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2Medical/clinical, formal, sometimes used in general media and public health contexts.
Quick answer
What does “chronic fatigue syndrome” mean?
A long-term medical condition characterized by extreme and persistent fatigue that is not improved by rest and is not directly caused by other medical conditions.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A long-term medical condition characterized by extreme and persistent fatigue that is not improved by rest and is not directly caused by other medical conditions.
A complex disorder involving severe fatigue lasting at least six months, often accompanied by muscle pain, memory issues, sleep problems, and post-exertional malaise. It's sometimes called myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK medical contexts, 'ME/CFS' is the preferred combined term, with 'ME' often used alone. In the US, 'CFS' is more common standalone. Spelling: 'syndrome' is identical.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries clinical weight. Public/popular understanding may vary, with some controversy over its recognition as a purely biological vs. psychological condition.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in medical contexts. Slightly higher public/media visibility in the UK, where 'ME' is a common household term.
Grammar
How to Use “chronic fatigue syndrome” in a Sentence
Patient + has/developed/was diagnosed with + chronic fatigue syndromeChronic fatigue syndrome + affects/causes/is characterized by + NPVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chronic fatigue syndrome” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She has been chronic fatigue syndromed for years. (Informal/non-standard)
- The GP suspects she may be suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome.
American English
- He was diagnosed as having chronic fatigue syndrome.
- The illness chronically fatigues the entire system. (Rare, derived)
adverb
British English
- She is chronically fatigued, as in chronic fatigue syndrome.
- He moved slowly, chronic-fatigue-syndrome-like. (Highly informal)
American English
- She felt fatigue chronically, reminiscent of chronic fatigue syndrome.
- The pain presented similarly to chronic fatigue syndrome.
adjective
British English
- The chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms worsened.
- A chronic-fatigue-syndrome diagnosis (hyphenated attributively).
American English
- Chronic fatigue syndrome research is underfunded.
- She is a chronic fatigue syndrome patient.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in discussions of workplace accommodations, long-term sick leave, or disability insurance.
Academic
Common in medical, psychological, and public health research papers.
Everyday
Used when discussing health, especially long-term illness, but often requires explanation.
Technical
Standard diagnostic term in medicine and psychiatry, with specific criteria (e.g., CDC or NICE criteria).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chronic fatigue syndrome”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chronic fatigue syndrome”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chronic fatigue syndrome”
- Using it to describe normal tiredness after a busy week.
- Misspelling as 'chronical fatigue syndrome'.
- Omitting 'syndrome'.
- Incorrectly capitalizing all words (it's not a proper noun).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. CFS is a specific medical disorder with diagnostic criteria. Ordinary tiredness improves with rest, while CFS fatigue is profound, long-lasting, and often worsened by physical or mental activity.
Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) emphasizes neurological and immune system dysfunction, while chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) focuses on the defining symptom of fatigue. Many health organisations now use 'ME/CFS' to acknowledge they describe the same or similar condition.
Full recovery is possible but not common for everyone. Many patients experience a fluctuating course, with periods of improvement and relapse. Management focuses on symptom control and improving quality of life.
Standard intensive exercise can be harmful. Graded Exercise Therapy (GET) was once recommended but is now controversial. Current approaches like 'pacing' advise balancing activity and rest to avoid triggering post-exertional malaise.
A long-term medical condition characterized by extreme and persistent fatigue that is not improved by rest and is not directly caused by other medical conditions.
Chronic fatigue syndrome is usually medical/clinical, formal, sometimes used in general media and public health contexts. in register.
Chronic fatigue syndrome: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkrɒnɪk fəˈtiːɡ ˌsɪndrəʊm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkrɑːnɪk fəˈtiːɡ ˌsɪndroʊm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Running on empty (metaphorically similar state)”
- “Hitting a wall”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CHRONIC = long-lasting, FATIGUE = extreme tiredness, SYNDROME = a group of symptoms. Think: 'A Long-lasting Group of symptoms centered on Fatigue'.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE BODY AS A BATTERY THAT WON'T RECHARGE; ILLNESS AS A PRISON (confining the sufferer).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a key diagnostic feature of chronic fatigue syndrome?