in remission

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in remission" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which an illness, disease, or other medical disorder has temporarily decreased in severity or disappeared altogether. For example, "After months of treatment for cancer, Robert's doctor has finally informed him that his condition is in remission."

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

She's now in remission.

The New York Times

"Hope's in remission".

Independent

"I'm in remission".

The New York Times - Sports

Michelle is also in remission.

Independent

Her cancer is in remission.

The New York Times - Books

Her leukemia is in remission.

The New York Times - Sports

The cancer is in remission.

The New York Times

Rocco is currently in remission.

The New York Times

Now he is in remission.

The New Yorker

(He is now in remission).

The Guardian

She is currently in remission.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in remission" specifically when referring to chronic or serious illnesses like cancer or autoimmune disorders where a total 'cure' is not yet confirmed. It accurately reflects the medical reality that the disease may return.

Common error

Avoid using "in remission" as a direct synonym for 'cured' in scientific or sensitive contexts. While a patient may be symptom-free, the term remission implies that the disease is under control or undetectable, not necessarily gone forever.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in remission" functions as a prepositional phrase typically used in a predicative position following a linking verb (e.g. 'is', 'remains', 'appears'). According to Ludwig, it modifies the subject by describing its health status.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Social Media

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in remission" is a vital phrase in the English language for discussing medical recovery with precision. Unlike the word 'cured', which suggests a final resolution, "in remission" acknowledges that while the symptoms have subsided, the journey of health management may continue. Ludwig AI shows that this phrase is most frequently used in News & Media and Science contexts, highlighting its importance in both human-interest stories and clinical reports. It remains the most accurate and responsible way to describe a patient's state when a disease is no longer active but requires ongoing monitoring.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

no evidence of disease

Uses formal clinical terminology often abbreviated as NED in medical records

disease-free

Suggests the total absence of the illness within the body

undetectable

Used when diagnostic tests can no longer find traces of the condition

symptom-free

Describes the patient's experience of feeling better regardless of the underlying pathology

clinically stable

Focuses on the lack of negative progression rather than the absence of symptoms

in a state of latency

Implies the disease is dormant but still present in the system

quiescent

A formal term indicating a period of inactivity or dormancy

partially recovered

Indicates improvement that is not yet a full disappearance of symptoms

recovered

Implies a more permanent state of health than the potentially temporary nature of remission

on the mend

A more informal and general way to say someone is recovering

FAQs

What does it mean to be "in remission"?

To be "in remission" means that the signs and symptoms of your cancer or other disease are reduced or have disappeared entirely. You might also hear this described as being "symptom free".

Is there a difference between "in remission" and "cured"?

Yes, they are different. Being "in remission" means the disease is currently undetectable or inactive, whereas being "cured" means the disease is gone and will not come back.

Can I say "no evidence of disease" instead?

Yes, "no evidence of disease" is a common medical alternative to "in remission" that indicates diagnostic tests cannot find any active disease cells.

How do you use "in remission" in a professional sentence?

You can use it with verbs like 'be', 'remain', or 'stay'. For example: 'The patient remains "in remission" after six months of therapy'.