alternative medicine

noun

: any of various systems of healing or treating disease (such as chiropractic, homeopathy, or faith healing) not included in the traditional medical curricula of the U.S. and Britain

Examples of alternative medicine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Callie Hernandez plays a character slyly named Carrie Fernandez, who travels to the Berkshires, in western Massachusetts, to claim the ashes of her late father, John, a doctor who was long involved in alternative medicine. —Richard Brody, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025

For about a decade the practice of psychedelic microdosing has flourished in wellness and alternative medicine communities. —New Atlas, 3 Apr. 2025

The 34-year-old has been trying alternative medicine, such as acupuncture, to help heal the paralysis. —Lauryn Overhultz, Fox News, 25 Feb. 2025

The ancient form of alternative medicine sees a practitioner place cups across a patient’s back, stomach, arms, and legs. —Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 4 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for alternative medicine

• biomedicine
• telemedicine

Kids Definition

alternative medicine

noun

: any of various systems of healing or treating disease (as herbal medicine) involving approaches not customarily taught or practiced in the U.S.

Medical Definition

alternative medicine

noun

: any of various systems of healing or treating disease (as homeopathy, chiropractic, naturopathy, Ayurveda, or faith healing) that are not included in the traditional curricula taught in medical schools of the United States and Britain