curative

adjective

cu·​ra·​tive ˈkyu̇r-ə-tiv 

ˈkyər-

1

: relating to or used in the cure of diseases : tending to cure

2

law : serving to correct or negate

We have instructed that if a complaint is vulnerable to … dismissal, a district court must permit a curative amendment, unless an amendment would be inequitable or futile.

—Phillips v. County of Allegheny, 515 F. 3d 224 (3rd Cir. 2008)

curative noun

curatively adverb

Did you know?

Medical researchers are finding curative substances in places that surprise them. Folklore has led to some "new" cures of old diseases, and natural substances never before tried have often proved effective. Quinine, which comes from a tree in the Andes, was the original drug for malaria; aspirin's main ingredient came from willow bark; and Taxol, a drug used in treating several cancers, was originally extracted from the bark of a yew tree. The curative properties of these natural drugs are today duplicated in the laboratory.

Synonyms of curative

• medicinal
• therapeutic

Examples of curative in a Sentence

an herb believed to have curative powers

some believe that the herb has curative properties

Recent Examples on the Web

Unfortunately, there are cases where an individual’s illness is so advanced that there is no curative treatment available. — Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2026

For patients, the result could be faster access to curative therapies rather than waiting for annual budgets, coverage decisions, and funding constraints to catch up with scientific advances. — William V. Padula, STAT, 8 June 2026

These may include admonishment, curative instructions, monetary or evidentiary sanctions; dismissal where warranted; and referral to the State Bar or the appropriate disciplinary authority. — Nathaniel Percy, Daily News, 5 May 2026

Payers also struggle with how to value one-time curative treatments like CAR-T cell cancer therapies. — Kimberley Jane Barnes, Forbes.com, 4 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Medieval Latin cūrātīvus, from Latin cūrātus, past participle of cūrāre "to watch over, attend, treat (sick persons), restore to health" + -īvus -ive — more at cure entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for curative

• durative
• suppurative

Kids Definition

curative

adjective

cu·​ra·​tive ˈkyu̇r-ət-iv 

: relating to or used in the cure of diseases

curative treatments

Medical Definition

curative

adjective

cu·​ra·​tive ˈkyu̇r-ət-iv 

: relating to or used in the cure of diseases

curative noun

curatively adverb

Legal Definition

curative

adjective

cu·​ra·​tive ˈkyu̇r-ə-tiv 

: serving or intended to cure defects

curative instructions to the jury