rehabilitation

noun

re·​ha·​bil·​i·​ta·​tion ˌrē-ə-ˌbi-lə-ˈtā-shən 

ˌrē-hə-

plural rehabilitations

: the action, process, or result of rehabilitating or of being rehabilitated: such as

a

: restoration especially by therapeutic means to an improved condition of physical function

MCL injuries alone rarely necessitate surgery and heal with rest and rehabilitation.

—Shira Springer

The handsome barn-style building is used as a wildlife rehabilitation center, so you'll see mending hawks, eagles, or owls perching.

—Lora J. Finnegan

also : the process of restoring a person to a drug- or alcohol-free state

… the tabloid feeding frenzy surrounding his drug bust and ensuing rehabilitation for heroin addiction last year.

—Joyce Millman

b

: the process of restoring someone (such as a criminal) to a useful and constructive place in society

the rehabilitation of prisoners

a prison rehabilitation program

c

: the restoration of something damaged or deteriorated to a prior good condition

the rehabilitation of the neighborhood

the rehabilitation of a person's reputation

Synonyms

• comeback
• convalescence
• healing
• mending
• rally
• recovery
• recuperation
• rehab
• snapback

Examples of rehabilitation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The foundation provides mental and physical rehabilitation for veterans who have suffered severe injuries such as paralysis, amputation and the unseen injuries that many veterans face. —Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Apr. 2024

The children’s father is in a rehabilitation facility. —Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 24 Apr. 2024

Walker Buehler, who is recovering from a second Tommy John surgery, will make his fifth minor league rehabilitation start — this one for triple-A Oklahoma City — on Wednesday in Albuquerque. —Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2024

Aaron's rehabilitation involved months of physical and occupational therapy, up to four days a week. —Stephanie Colombini, NPR, 18 Apr. 2024

Will a need to complete a cardiac rehabilitation program? —Yuliya Klochan, Health, 14 Apr. 2024

Having completed their rehabilitation, they are treated like ordinary citizens. —Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani, The Atlantic, 12 Apr. 2024

Other specialty areas including cardiology, dermatology, physical rehabilitation, otolaryngology and gastroenterology. —Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2024

In the Infrastructure Act, there’s this thing called the Legacy Roads and Trails Program, which is, basically, $250 million for road restoration and rehabilitation. —Chris Klimek, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing rehabilitation

• physical medicine and rehabilitation

Medical Definition

rehabilitation

noun

re·​ha·​bil·​i·​ta·​tion ˌrē-(h)ə-ˌbil-ə-ˈtā-shən 

often attributive

1

: the action or process of rehabilitating or of being rehabilitated: as

a

: the physical restoration of a sick or disabled person by therapeutic measures and reeducation to participation in the activities of a normal life within the limitations of the person's physical disability

rehabilitation after coronary occlusion

b

: the process of restoring an individual to a useful and constructive place in society especially through some form of vocational, correctional, or therapeutic retraining

2

: the result of rehabilitating : the state of being rehabilitated

rehabilitation of the patient