seasonal affective disorder

noun

: depression that tends to recur chiefly during the late fall and winter and is associated with shorter hours of daylight

—abbreviation SAD

Did you know?

Seasonal affective disorder hasn't been recognized as a medical condition for very long, and the term has only become part of the general English vocabulary during the past three decades or so (its earliest documented appearance in print dates from 1983). "Seasonal affective disorder" (abbreviated SAD) is also sometimes called "Winter Depression" and some researchers describe it as a "hibernation reaction" in which sensitive individuals react to the decreasing amounts of light and the colder temperatures of fall and winter.

Examples of seasonal affective disorder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Losing daylight in the evening can make people feel 'off' and can even trigger symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) for those who are vulnerable to it. —Lucy Notarantonio, Newsweek, 2 Nov. 2024

Notably, losing an hour of daylight can take a toll on people who are susceptible to seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression that peaks during the darker winter months. —Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024

Still, some people, especially those with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression usually linked to shorter days and less sunlight in fall and winter, may struggle more with sleep. —Sophie Okolo, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024

Because Seattle has shorter winter days than any other major U.S. city, residents experience higher than average levels of seasonal affective disorder, David Avery, professor emeritus at the UW School of Medicine and an expert in the mood disorder, has told Axios. —Christine Clarridge, Axios, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1983, in the meaning defined above

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Medical Definition

seasonal affective disorder

noun

sea·​son·​al affective disorder ˌsēz-ᵊn-əl- 

: depression that tends to recur each year chiefly during the late fall and winter and is associated with shorter hours of daylight

—abbreviation SAD