light therapy

noun

: the treatment of medical or psychiatric conditions (such as seasonal affective disorder) by the controlled application of light

called also light treatment, phototherapy

Examples of light therapy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Antidepressant medications are a first-line treatment for SAD, along with light therapy. — ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026

Those affected could benefit instead from treatments, such as melatonin or light therapy, that specifically target the body’s circadian rhythms . — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 28 Oct. 2026

Treatments that target the body’s internal clock, such as melatonin or light therapy, may prove beneficial. — Payal Dhar, Scientific American, 27 Oct. 2026

Does the seasonal pattern of my mood, energy, and sleep suggest that a treatment such as bright-light therapy might be worth considering? — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1987, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for light therapy

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

Medical Definition

light therapy

noun

: phototherapy

especially : the use of strong light (as of 10,000 lux intensity) for the treatment of depression and gloom (as in seasonal affective disorder)

called also light treatment