Syndrome

Definition

Syndrome refers to a collection of medical signs, symptoms, and/or characteristics that together present a particular abnormality or condition. This term is often used to categorize diseases and disorders that encompass a recognizable set of features.

Parts of Speech

• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈsɪndroʊm/
• Respelling: SIN-drohm (with "SIN" as in "sin" and "drohm" rhyming with "home")

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈsɪndrəʊm/
• Respelling: SIN-drohm (similar to American English, with "SIN" as in "sin" and "drohm" like in "home")

In both dialects, "syndrome" is pronounced with the primary stress on the first syllable, "SIN." The pronunciation is consistent across both American and British English, with the main difference potentially being in the subtle nuances of the vowel sounds.

Etymology

The word "syndrome" originates from the Greek word "syndromē," which means "concurrence of symptoms, a running together" from syn- "with" + dramein "to run."

Derivatives

• Syndromic (adjective)
• Syndrome-less (adjective)
• Syndrome-like (adjective)
• Post-syndrome (adjective)
• Pre-syndrome (adjective)

Synonyms

• Affliction
• Disorder
• Condition

Antonyms

• None

Usage

The term "syndrome" is predominantly used within the medical community to refer to a cluster of symptoms that are seen together and characterize a particular abnormality or condition. Syndromes are often named after the physician or group who discovered them or initially described the condition in medical literature.

Related Terms

• Disease
• Disorder
• Symptom
• Sign
• Condition
• Diagnosis

Detailed Definition

Noun

• Medical Category: A syndrome is defined as a recognizable complex of symptoms and physical findings which indicate a particular medical condition for which a direct cause is not necessarily understood.
• Example: Down Syndrome is characterized by a set of physical and mental characteristics.

• Pattern or Collection: A syndrome can also refer to a collection or pattern of behavior that groups together a range of related traits, habits, or acts.
• Example: Imposter Syndrome refers to a pattern of behavior where individuals doubt their accomplishments and have a persistent, often internalized fear of being exposed as a "fraud."