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relapse

REE-laps (noun), rih-LAPS (verb) /ˈriːlæps/ (noun), /rɪˈlæps/ (verb)

nounverbC1GRETOEFLIELTS

formalmedicalgeneral

(noun) A deterioration in someone's state of health after a temporary improvement; the return to a previous state or behavior, especially after a period of improvement or abstinence. (verb) To suffer a relapse.

In addiction, 'relapse' specifically means returning to substance use after a period of sobriety. It's often viewed as part of the recovery process, not a complete failure.

The story behind the word. The word 'relapse' comes from the Latin relāpsus, the past participle of relābī, meaning 'to slip back, slide back.' It's a combination of re- 'back' and lābī 'to slip, slide.' This perfectly captures the idea of someone who was moving forward in recovery, but then 'slips back' into their old patterns. It's a vivid image of a setback on a journey.

Word relationships

backslide: To revert to a worse state or former bad habits, often implying moral or spiritual decline.
regression: A return to an earlier or less developed condition, often used in psychology.

recovery: A return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength.
progress: Forward or onward movement toward a destination.

Commonly confused with

slip: A 'slip' is a brief, isolated instance of substance use, often not leading to a full return to addiction, whereas 'relapse' implies a more sustained return to use.

Word family

relapsed (adjective): Having returned to a former state or condition.

Collocations

prevent relapse
risk of relapse
suffer a relapse
experience a relapse
relapse prevention

Example sentences

"Despite significant progress, the patient experienced a relapse after a particularly stressful period in their life." Discussing the challenges of recovery.
"Studies show that stress is a major trigger for relapse in individuals recovering from addiction." In a medical journal.

Memory hook

A RELAPSE is when you 'RE-turn' and 'LAPSE' back into old habits. SLIP BACK

When not to use

Avoid using 'relapse' for minor slip-ups or temporary setbacks that don't involve a full return to the previous harmful behavior, especially in a clinical context where precision matters.

Fun facts

Relapse rates for addiction are comparable to those for other chronic diseases like asthma or hypertension.
Relapse prevention is a critical component of most addiction treatment programs.

Related words

abstinence, rehabilitation

Explore more words

deteriorate, lapse, recidivism, recuperate, rehabilitate, regress