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

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

Even so, he is granted conjugal visits there with multiple women for his mental health and rehabilitation under the country's constitution. —Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 17 Apr. 2024

Dana Manley Rhoden, 37, an aide at a nursing and rehabilitation center, the former wife of Chris Rhoden and mother to their three children. —The Enquirer, 16 Apr. 2024

Walker Buehler injury update Walker Buehler’s third minor league rehabilitation start Friday, this one for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, was cut short after he was struck on the right hand by a comebacker in the second inning. —Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2024

The estimated 20-30 foot humpback whale was found around 6:45 a.m. in the surf in Long Beach Township, New Jersey, according to a post from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, a nonprofit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of marine animals. —Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024

Editors’ Picks The new study is a product of the New York City Virus Hunters initiative, a collaboration between the rehabilitation center, Mount Sinai scientists, community members and a science outreach organization. —Apoorva Mandavilli, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024

This plan also fits with Newsom’s proposal to refashion San Quentin from a death row hub into a model rehabilitation center by 2025. —Lindsey Holden, Sacramento Bee, 9 Apr. 2024

Still, Glide hopes that the Benioff auction will also raise significant funds to support the organization’s $31 million budget, which provides meals, health care, job training, rehabilitation and housing for the poor and homeless. —Josh Funk, Fortune, 9 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