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chronic

adj.
US //ˈkɹɑnɪk// UK //kɹˈɒnɪk// chron·ic
  1. 1 long-lasting (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Medicine

    continuing for a long time or happening again and again.

    persisting over a long period of time or constantly recurring. Often used to describe medical conditions or systemic social problems.

    Example

    My grandfather suffers from chronic back pain that makes it hard for him to walk.

    Example

    The region faces a chronic shortage of clean water, a crisis that has been exacerbated by several years of record-breaking drought.
    Pitfall
    He has a chronic pain in his leg today.
    He has an acute pain in his leg today.

    Use 'chronic' for long-term issues. For a sudden, sharp, or short-term problem, use 'acute'.

  2. 2 habitual (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    doing something bad as a habit that is hard to stop.

    inveterate or habitual in behavior, typically regarding a negative trait or condition.

    Example

    He is a chronic liar who cannot be trusted even with small details.

    Example

    The department was plagued by chronic underperformance, largely due to a lack of clear leadership and accountability.
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  1. 3 very bad (adj.)
    C1 Advanced British English Informal

    of very poor quality; terrible.

    extremely bad, intense, or of poor quality.

    Example

    The service at that restaurant was absolutely chronic, so we left without eating.

    Example

    The weather during our holiday was chronic, with relentless rain and wind that kept us indoors for the entire week.
Origin

From chronical, from Old French cronike, from Latin chronicus, from Ancient Greek χρονικός (khronikós, “of time”), from χρόνος (khrónos, “time”). By surface analysis, chron- + -ic.

Word family

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