chronotherapy

noun

chro·​no·​ther·​a·​py ˌkrä-nō-ˈther-ə-pē How to pronounce chronotherapy (audio)
ˌkrō-
1
: treatment of a sleep disorder (such as insomnia) by changing sleeping and waking times in an attempt to reset the patient's biological clock
2
or chronotherapeutics : the administration of medication or treatment in coordination with the body's circadian rhythms to maximize effectiveness and minimize side effects

Examples of chronotherapy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The growing understanding of circadian rhythms also could offer help through what's known as chronotherapy. Lydia Denworth, Scientific American, 13 June 2023 In another cancer trial, tailoring chemotherapy to these daily rhythms—a practice known as chronotherapy—made the same drugs more effective and reduced the frequency of toxic side effects. Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 28 Aug. 2012 Certainly, Benedetti has never been offered pharmaceutical funding to carry out his trials of chronotherapy. Linda Geddes, Smithsonian, 23 Jan. 2018 San Raffaele Hospital first introduced triple chronotherapy in 1996. Linda Geddes, Smithsonian, 23 Jan. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chronotherapy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

chrono- + therapy

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chronotherapy was in 1973

Dictionary Entries Near chronotherapy

Cite this Entry

“Chronotherapy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chronotherapy. Accessed 3 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

chronotherapy

noun
chro·​no·​ther·​a·​py ˌkrän-ə-ˈther-ə-pē, ˌkrō-nə- How to pronounce chronotherapy (audio)
plural chronotherapies
1
: treatment of a sleep disorder (as insomnia) by changing sleeping and waking times in an attempt to reset the patient's biological clock
A nondrug treatment called chronotherapy can be used to "re-set" the body clock.Tara Parker-Pope, The Wall Street Journal
2
or chronotherapeutics : the administration of medication or treatment in coordination with the body's circadian rhythms to maximize effectiveness and minimize side effects
Chronotherapy is the relatively new practice of timed treatment.The Daily News of Los Angeles
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