curative

adjective

cu·​ra·​tive ˈkyu̇r-ə-tiv 

ˈkyər-

1

: relating to or used in the cure of diseases : tending to cure

2

law : serving to correct or negate

We have instructed that if a complaint is vulnerable to … dismissal, a district court must permit a curative amendment, unless an amendment would be inequitable or futile.

—Phillips v. County of Allegheny, 515 F. 3d 224 (3rd Cir. 2008)

curative noun

curatively adverb

Did you know?

Medical researchers are finding curative substances in places that surprise them. Folklore has led to some "new" cures of old diseases, and natural substances never before tried have often proved effective. Quinine, which comes from a tree in the Andes, was the original drug for malaria; aspirin's main ingredient came from willow bark; and Taxol, a drug used in treating several cancers, was originally extracted from the bark of a yew tree. The curative properties of these natural drugs are today duplicated in the laboratory.

Synonyms

• medicinal
• therapeutic

Examples of curative in a Sentence

an herb believed to have curative powers

some believe that the herb has curative properties

Recent Examples on the Web

Some herbalists consider yarrow (Achillea spp.), a stalwart member of the daisy family, to be the most medicinal plant in the world, with curative properties that extend to every organ of the body. —Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 10 Oct. 2025

Scientifically, preventive medicine is always preferred over curative, but what happens when there is neither prevention nor cure? —Hany Demian, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025

The brand’s eye-specific product packs a punch courtesy of antioxidants, fine line–erasing peptides, and Persian silk tree extract (the latter is both a preventative and curative measure against dark circles and puffiness). —Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 12 Sep. 2025

Procedures and treatments are rewarded while preventative and curative methodologies remain undervalued. —David Marks, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Medieval Latin cūrātīvus, from Latin cūrātus, past participle of cūrāre "to watch over, attend, treat (sick persons), restore to health" + -īvus -ive — more at cure entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for curative

• durative
• suppurative

Kids Definition

curative

adjective

cu·​ra·​tive ˈkyu̇r-ət-iv 

: relating to or used in the cure of diseases

curative treatments

Medical Definition

curative

adjective

cu·​ra·​tive ˈkyu̇r-ət-iv 

: relating to or used in the cure of diseases

curative noun

curatively adverb

Legal Definition

curative

adjective

cu·​ra·​tive ˈkyu̇r-ə-tiv 

: serving or intended to cure defects

curative instructions to the jury