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therapy
noun
ther·a·py
ˈther-ə-pē
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
Synonyms
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
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
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Word History
Etymology
New Latin therapia, from Greek therapeia, from therapeuein
First Known Use
1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing therapy
- androgen deprivation therapy
- art therapy
- aversion therapy
- behavioral therapy
- behavior therapy
- chelation therapy
- cognitive behavioral therapy
- cognitive behavior therapy
- cognitive therapy
- combination therapy
- conversion therapy
- couples therapy
- craniosacral therapy
- electroconvulsive therapy
- electroshock therapy
- estrogen replacement therapy
- gene therapy
- group therapy
- hormone replacement therapy
- hormone therapy
- light therapy
- massage therapy
- music therapy
- occupational therapy
- physical therapy
- play therapy
- polarity therapy
- primal scream therapy
- radiation therapy
- radium therapy
- reparative therapy
- replacement therapy
- self-therapy
- shock therapy
- speech therapy
- talk therapy
- X-ray therapy
Articles Related to therapy
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
plural therapies
: treatment of an abnormal state of the mind or body
Medical Definition
therapy
noun
ther·a·py
ˈther-ə-pē
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
Nglish: Translation of therapy for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of therapy for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about therapy
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