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depression
/dɪˈprɛʃən/
a mental health disorder characterized by persistent sadness and loss of interest
She was diagnosed with clinical depression after months of feeling hopeless.
The sentence describes someone officially identified as having a severe form of depression.
Medicine
Medical
a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how a person feels, thinks, and acts
Depression can be treated with therapy, medication, or a combination of both.
This explains that depression is a treatable condition with multiple approaches.
Clinical depression is diagnosed by a healthcare professional and requires professional treatment.
psychological
a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behavior, feelings, and sense of well-being
He experienced depression after losing his job, making it hard to find motivation.
This shows how a life event can trigger depressive symptoms.
Depression can range from mild to severe and may require professional support.
economic
a prolonged period of low economic activity
The Great Depression of the 1930s was a severe worldwide economic downturn.
This refers to a historical period of economic hardship.
This meaning is less common and typically refers to economic conditions.
Collocations
clinical depressiona severe form of depression diagnosed by a doctormajor depressive disordera medical diagnosis for persistent depressionpostpartum depressiondepression experienced by some after childbirth
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Medical vs. Emotional Use
Be mindful that 'depression' as a medical term is distinct from casual uses of 'feeling depressed'.
Gold Rule
Avoid Minimizing
Do not use 'just depressed' to dismiss someone's clinical depression.
Word Origin
From Latin 'depressio', meaning 'a pressing down', from 'deprimere' (to press down). First used in English in the 14th century to describe a low state of mind.
Usage Notes
While 'depression' can refer to sadness, it is important to distinguish between everyday sadness and clinical depression, which is a medical condition requiring treatment.
Word Breakdown
de-
down, away
prefix-press
to press
root-ion
state or condition
suffixEnglish Dictionary