How to Pronounce Complete Remission
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Complete Remission Pronunciation
kum-PLEET reh-MIH-zhun
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
kum
PLEET reh
MIH
stress here
zhun
4 syllables
What is Complete Remission?
The disappearance of all detectable signs and symptoms of a blood cancer, including normalization of blood counts and clearance of cancer cells from the bone marrow below a detectable threshold on standard tests, after treatment. Complete remission does not necessarily mean cure, as residual disease at the molecular level may persist.
Questions About Complete Remission
How do you pronounce 'complete remission'?
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Say it like this: kum-PLEET reh-MIH-zhun. The stress falls on the second syllable of each word—PLEET in 'complete' and MIH in 'remission.' Think of it as 'kum-PLEET' (rhymes with 'fleet') followed by 'reh-MIH-zhun' (the 'zh' sounds like the 's' in 'measure').
What does 'remission' mean in plain English?
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Remission means a period when signs or symptoms of a disease disappear or become undetectable. In everyday language, you might say the disease has 'gone away' or 'disappeared,' though medically it's more precise to say it's in remission.
What's the difference between 'complete remission' and just 'remission'?
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The word 'complete' means all or total. So 'complete remission' means ALL detectable signs and symptoms have disappeared, whereas 'remission' alone could sometimes refer to a partial improvement. Complete remission is the fuller, more thorough version.
What does the word 'complete' come from?
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The word 'complete' comes from Latin and originally meant 'filled up' or 'finished.' Over time it came to mean 'whole' or 'total.' The word parts are 'com-' (together) and '-plete' (filled), so it literally meant 'filled together' or 'made whole.'
What does 'remission' come from?
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The word 'remission' comes from Latin 're-' (back) and 'mittere' (to send). So it originally meant 'sending back' or 'letting go,' which is why in medicine it describes symptoms that have subsided or gone away.
How do you break 'complete remission' into syllables?
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Break it like this: com-PLETE re-MIS-sion. That's five syllables total. The stress lands on PLETE (the second syllable of complete) and MIS (the second syllable of remission).
What's a common mispronunciation of this term?
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A common mistake is putting the stress on the first syllable: COM-plete reh-mih-ZHUN. Remember: the stress should be on the SECOND syllable of each word, so say kum-PLEET reh-MIH-zhun instead.
Can you use 'complete remission' in a sentence?
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Sure! Here's an example: 'After six months of treatment, the patient's blood tests showed complete remission, with no cancer cells detectable in the bone marrow.' This sentence shows how the term is used when talking about medical results.
Is there a short way to write or say 'complete remission'?
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Yes, doctors often abbreviate it as 'CR' in medical notes and reports. You would say it as 'C-R' or sometimes just call it 'complete remission' in conversation since it's already a fairly straightforward term.

