noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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CMU ARPABET:K AA2 N V AH0 L EH1 S AH0 N S
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A gradual healing after illness or injury.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The period of time spent healing.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
gradual healing (through rest) after sickness or injury
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: recuperation, recovery
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: healing
Narrower terms: lysis, rally
History
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French convalescence, from Late Latin convalēscentia (“regaining of health”), from Latin convalēscēn(t-)s, present participle of convalēscere (“to become strong or well”); see convalesce.
Across languages
Translations
44 source translations are retained for this English entry.
