Words / D / Medicine

decompensate

verb/ˌdiːˈkɒmpənseɪt/

C2CEFR level
80/100Rarity: very rare
TechnicalRegister

To lose the ability to maintain normal function, so that a previously stable condition deteriorates.

A child can decompensate suddenly once their reserves are exhausted, so we watched her closely.

Topic: Paramedic & emergency in Medical English

Rarity runs from 0 (a word everyone knows) to 100 (almost never seen outside specialist or literary writing). Level is the word's real difficulty on the CEFR scale, from A1 to C2.

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More medicine words: Paramedic & emergency