therapy

noun

ther·​a·​py ˈther-ə-pē How to pronounce therapy (audio)
plural therapies
1
: therapeutic medical treatment of impairment, injury, disease, or disorder
The number of new patients treated for end-stage renal disease … with dialysis or renal transplantation has continued to rise exponentially with an 8.4% annualized growth rate reaching more than 160,000 patients undergoing therapy in the United States in 1989.Friedrich K. Port
see also art therapy, chelation therapy, chemotherapy, gene therapy, hormone therapy, music therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, shock therapy, speech therapy
2
: psychotherapy
Furthermore, the psychotherapist knows that all actions in therapy are messages that need be decoded and understood regardless of the 'language' the patient uses.Bruno Bettelheim and Alvin A. Rosenfeld

Examples of therapy in a Sentence

He is undergoing cancer therapy. talking over my problem with you has been good therapy
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Oklahoma City Zoo also had two Asian elephants on allergy therapy for pollen and grasses: Kairavi and her aunt, Chandra. Jen McCaffery, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024 From routine costs — like co-pays at doctor's visits, therapy sessions and prescription medications — to unexpected medical bills, health care expenses weigh heavily on many people's budgets. Becca Stanek, theweek, 13 Nov. 2024 More women are seeking testosterone therapy, prompted by influencers, according to doctors. Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 11 Nov. 2024 However, immunosuppressive therapies used to treat Crohn's disease, such as Imuran (azathioprine) and Humira (adalimumab), can increase the risk of skin cancer. Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 6 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for therapy 

Word History

Etymology

New Latin therapia, from Greek therapeia, from therapeuein

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of therapy was in 1838

Dictionary Entries Near therapy

Cite this Entry

“Therapy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/therapy. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

therapy

noun
ther·​a·​py ˈther-ə-pē How to pronounce therapy (audio)
plural therapies
: treatment of an abnormal state of the mind or body

Medical Definition

therapy

noun
ther·​a·​py ˈther-ə-pē How to pronounce therapy (audio)
plural therapies
: therapeutic treatment: as
a
: remedial treatment of mental or bodily disorder
b
: an agency (as treatment) designed or serving to bring about rehabilitation or social adjustment see occupational therapy, recreational therapy

More from Merriam-Webster on therapy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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