depression

noun

de·pres·sion di-ˈpre-shən

dē-

plural depressions

: an act of depressing or a state of being depressed: such as

: a state of feeling sad : low spirits : melancholy

specifically : a mood disorder that is marked by varying degrees of sadness, despair, and loneliness and that is typically accompanied by inactivity, guilt, loss of concentration, social withdrawal, sleep disturbances, and sometimes suicidal tendencies see also clinical depression, major depression, postpartum depression

b(1)

: a reduction in activity, amount, quality, or force

a depression in trade

(2)

biology : a lowering of physical or mental vitality or of functional activity

: a pressing down : lowering

a depression of the tab key

economics : a period of low general economic activity marked especially by rising levels of unemployment

heading towards a depression

periods of economic depression

: a place or part that is lower than the surrounding area : a depressed place or part : hollow

The chicken pox left several depressions in her skin.

meteorology : low entry 2 sense 1b

a tropical depression

astronomy : the angular distance of a celestial object below the horizon

mathematics : the size of an angle of depression

Example Sentences

She has been undergoing treatment for severe depression. Many people suffer from clinical depression for years before being diagnosed. After several years of an economic boom, it looks as though we may be heading toward a depression. The photographs show depressions in the moon's surface.

Recent Examples on the Web For instance, mindfulness meditation showed moderate evidence of improving stress, depression and pain, according to a 2014 review of 47 clinical trials that was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Zee Krstic, Good Housekeeping, 30 Nov. 2022 Esperança educators provide workshops on healthy eating, medication adherence, blood sugar control, oral health and stress and depression management.

Nadia Cantú, The Arizona Republic, 27 Nov. 2022 Teen-agers are currently facing a crisis of mental health: rates of depression and suicide are high, and resources to help guide them away from dangerous outcomes are frightfully limited.

The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2022 According to a 2020 survey of nearly 600 people living with bladder cancer conducted by the online patient community Health Union, 18% of respondents were diagnosed with depression and 16% with anxiety.

Elizabeth Millard, Time, 18 Nov. 2022 Transgender adolescents suffer from disproportionately high rates of depression and other mental health issues.

Christina Jewett, New York Times, 14 Nov. 2022 Loneliness correlated to higher rates of anxiety, depression and suicide.

Alexa Mikhail, Fortune, 14 Nov. 2022 Hoge said that different meditation programs might be appropriate for helping treat depression and ADHD, among other conditions.

Zoe Sottile, CNN, 13 Nov. 2022 The act of inhaling the vapor has gained popularity in naturalistic settings as a treatment for anxiety, depression or other mental health issues.

Nathan Solisstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'depression.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

see depress

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5a

Time Traveler

The first known use of depression was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Depression.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/depression. Accessed 7 Dec. 2022.

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Kids Definition

depression

noun

de·pres·sion di-ˈpresh-ən

: an act of depressing : a state of being depressed: as

: a pressing down : lowering

: a state of feeling sad : dejection

also : a mental disorder marked by sadness, inactivity, and loss of a sense of one's own worth

: a reduction in activity, amount, quality, or force

: a depressed place or part : hollow

a depression in the road

: a period of low general economic activity with widespread unemployment

Medical Definition

depression

noun

de·pres·sion di-ˈpresh-ən

: a displacement downward or inward

depression of the jaw

: an act of depressing or a state of being depressed: as

: a state of feeling sad : low spirits : melancholy

specifically : a mood disorder marked by varying degrees of sadness, despair, and loneliness that is typically accompanied by inactivity, guilt, loss of concentration, social withdrawal, sleep disturbances, and sometimes suicidal tendencies see also clinical depression, major depression, postpartum depression

: a reduction in functional activity, amount, quality, or force

depression of autonomic function

depression of red blood cells