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rare disease — a medical condition that affects a very small percentage of the population

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: a medical condition that affects a very small percentage of the population

Pronunciation (IPA): /rer dɪˈziːz/

Example Sentences

  • My friend jokingly said his allergy to homework is a rare disease that only affects lazy students.
  • Scientists around the world are collaborating to find treatments for rare diseases.
  • Because it's a rare disease, only a handful of specialists know how to diagnose it correctly.

rare disease

NOUN

[/rer dɪˈziːz/]

a medical condition that affects a very small percentage of the population

The doctor finally identified a rare disease after years of confusing symptoms.
💡 Concept

The doctor finally identified a rare disease after years of confusing symptoms.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/rer dɪˈziːz/
🇬🇧 UK/reə dɪˈziːz/

🌳Etymology

Prefixdis--
Rootease

Origin

Rare derives from Latin rarus, meaning 'thinly sown' or 'sparse,' denoting uncommon or infrequent occurrence. Disease originates from Old French desaise, combining dis- (negation) and aise (ease, comfort), literally meaning 'lack of ease' or discomfort, and evolved to denote bodily affliction or illness.

Breakdown

Rare (Latin rarus: sparse, uncommon) + disease (dis- [negation] + ease [comfort]: absence of ease). The compound phrase describes pathological conditions that occur with low frequency in populations.

🎵Rhyme

care disease
fair disease

🔗Collocations

suffer from a rare disease
diagnose a rare disease
rare disease research
treatment for rare diseases
rare disease patients
genetic rare disease

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“My friend jokingly said his allergy to homework is a rare disease that only affects lazy students.”

“Scientists around the world are collaborating to find treatments for rare diseases.”

“Because it's a rare disease, only a handful of specialists know how to diagnose it correctly.”

😄 Fun example

“She has a rare disease that makes her incredibly sensitive to Mondays—doctors call it 'Mondayitis.'”

📚Related Words

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