gene therapy

noun

: the insertion of usually genetically altered genes into cells especially to replace defective genes in the treatment of genetic disorders or to provide a specialized disease-fighting function

gene therapist noun

Examples of gene therapy in a Sentence

advances in the science of gene therapy

Recent Examples on the Web

Many gene therapies work best when used early in life, before a disease causes widespread and irreversible damage, and Huntington’s disease is no exception. —William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026

Expensive cancer treatments, gene therapies and other medications are also contributing to premium increases. —Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026

So did Alnylam, a global leader in life-saving gene therapies…Then there’s Transmedics – a company saving lives for people who need organ transplants. —Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 23 Jan. 2026

At a Food and Drug Administration cell and gene therapy (CGT) roundtable last June, most speakers pushed for the agency to soften oversight of the field. —Paul Knoepfler, STAT, 20 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gene therapy

• brachytherapy
• chemotherapy
• cryotherapy
• hydrotherapy
• hypnotherapy
• monotherapy
• phototherapy
• psychotherapy
• sclerotherapy
• immunotherapy
• pharmacotherapy
• physiotherapy

Kids Definition

gene therapy

noun

: the insertion of a functioning gene into cells especially to replace a defective gene in the treatment of genetic disorders

Medical Definition

gene therapy

noun

: the insertion of usually genetically altered genes into cells especially to replace defective genes in the treatment of genetic disorders or to provide a specialized disease-fighting function (as the destruction of tumor cells)

gene therapist noun