treatment

noun

treat·​ment ˈtrēt-mənt 

plural treatments

1

: the act or manner or an instance of treating someone or something: such as

a

: conduct or behavior towards another

The actor requires careful treatment.

… he always treated people with whom he disagreed with utmost civility and never allowed his scholarly predispositions to interfere with respectful treatment of students holding differing views.

—LSA [Linguistic Society of America] Bulletin

b

: the action or manner of dealing with something (such as a topic) often in a specified way

… the best and most comprehensive treatment of American foreign oil policy that has so far been written.

—Burton I. Kaufman

… cinematic treatments of organized crime as GoodFellas, Godfather III and Miller's Crossing.

—Ralph Novak

… most of us readers assume that this conflict of interest is the reason PC Magazine reviews of Microsoft products are softball treatments that in no way reflect the actual experiences of users, who are plagued with constant program crashes.

—Joseph Kristl

c

: the action or way of treating a patient or a condition medically or surgically : management and care to prevent, cure, ameliorate, or slow progression of a medical condition

treatment of accident victims

palliative treatment of inoperable cancer

treatment of a blocked artery

infertility treatments

treatment of diabetic patients

also : an instance of treating a patient or medical condition

patients requiring numerous chemotherapy treatments

Removal of the skin growth required a single treatment.

d

: subjection of something to the action of an agent or process

sewage treatment

It is the most economical and practical method of purification and treatment of water.

—Business Insider (online)

a wastewater treatment plant

2

a

: a therapeutic agent, therapy, or procedure used to treat a medical condition

Placebos—medical treatments that contain no active ingredients—have triggered an outbreak of controversy …

—Science News

b

: something (such as a product or technique) used in treating, enhancing, or improving the performance, condition, or appearance of someone or something

exfoliating skin treatments

He cares about the condition of hair, invents treatments as well as styles, and has brought out a special hair-care product made of bone marrow.

—Vogue

Regularly apply a waterproofing treatment suitable for the boot whether it be normal leather, nubuck or suede.

—Rodney Chester

Wainscoting is paneling that lines the lower part of the walls in a room. This decorative treatment usually goes as high as chair rail height, but can be raised higher for a more elegant wall treatment.

—Denise Freese

3

: the techniques or actions customarily applied in a specified situation: such as

a

: the provision (such as by a store or restaurant) of the goods or services associated with a visit, fee, or order

The party received special treatment at the restaurant.

"If you want luxury goods, then walking into a Gucci or Prada or Cartier and getting the full treatment and sitting on the cushy leather banquette is part of the experience," says freelance writer and fashion aficionada Lisbeth Levine.

—Robin Givhan

b

: a pattern of actions (such as the bestowal of gifts and favors) designed to reward, encourage, or convince

… he has been getting the standard treatment of cocktail parties, press interviews and deals with advertisers …

—Time

In those early days, [Gerald] Ford was invited to the White House by the natty, peppery Harry Truman, who wanted $5 million to renovate the crumbling building. Ford got the full treatment, with amateur architect Truman pointing out sagging floors and the lack of closets. Truman got his money.

—Hugh Sidey

c

: a pattern of actions (such as insults or physical punishment) designed to punish or persuade

—used especially in phrases like get the treatment and give (someone) the treatment

When asked what MI [Military Intelligence] said, he [Sergeant Javal S. Davis] stated: "Loosen this guy up for us. Make sure he has a bad night. Make sure he gets the treatment."

—Los Angeles Times

Some of the cops at the station house were ready to take him into a back room and give him "the treatment" for passing himself off as one of them.

—William McGowan

Instead, the press corps closed their minds and treated dissenters like pariahs to coerce conformity. NBC News got the full treatment when it dared to break ranks.

—Michael Goodwin

Examples of treatment in a Sentence

We want to ensure equal treatment for everyone.

The law requires humane treatment of prisoners.

It's a complicated issue that requires careful treatment.

The book's treatment of this important issue is unimpressive.

Previous treatments of this topic have ignored some key issues.

The patient required immediate medical treatment.

She is receiving treatment for cancer.

The drug has been approved as a treatment for AIDS.

Recent Examples on the Web

Farms are required to follow humane treatment and euthanasia standards for the animals, Hobbs said. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025

Avoid falling asleep while using either form of treatment. —Rikkilynn Shields Hannigan, Health, 25 Oct. 2025

With treatment, a person diagnosed with Marfan syndrome can expect to live as long as someone without the disease. —Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025

A little goes a long way, and a much smaller dab doubles as a glossy, hydrating treatment during the day. —Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 25 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing treatment

• gives me the silent treatment
• pre-treatment
• self-treatment
• sewage treatment plant
• silent treatment
• the full treatment
• the royal treatment
• the silent treatment
• window treatment

Rhymes for treatment

• maltreatment
• mistreatment
• posttreatment
• pretreatment

Kids Definition

treatment

noun

treat·​ment ˈtrēt-mənt 

1

: the act or manner or an instance of treating someone or something

the antiques require careful treatment

2

: a substance or method used in treating

a beauty treatment

waste treatment plant

Medical Definition

treatment

noun

treat·​ment ˈtrēt-mənt 

1

: the action or way of treating a patient or a condition medically or surgically : management and care to prevent, cure, ameliorate, or slow progression of a medical condition

palliative treatment of advanced, inoperable cancer

treatment of burn victims

infertility treatments

2

: an instance of treating a patient or medical condition

a study concerning the efficacy of chemotherapy treatments

Removal of the skin growth required a single treatment.

3

a

: a therapeutic agent, therapy, or procedure used to treat a medical condition

a controversial medical treatment

b

: something (such as a product or technique) used in treating, enhancing, or improving the performance, condition, or appearance of someone or something

exfoliating skin treatments