1.
A
chronic illness or disability lasts for a very long time. Compare
acute.
...chronic back pain.
ADJ: usu ADJ n
• chronically
Most of them were chronically ill.
ADV: ADV adj/-ed
2.
You can describe someone's bad habits or behaviour as chronic when they have behaved like that for a long time and do not seem to be able to stop themselves.
...a chronic worrier.
ADJ: ADJ n
3.
A chronic situation or problem is very severe and unpleasant.
One cause of the artist's suicide seems to have been chronic poverty...
= severe
ADJ: usu ADJ n
• chronically
Research and technology are said to be chronically underfunded.
ADV: ADV adj/-ed