massage therapy

noun

: the manipulation of the muscles and other soft tissues of the body (as by stroking, kneading, or rubbing with one or both hands or an instrument) by a massage therapist for therapeutic purposes (as to relieve pain, promote healing, or improve physical functioning)

Last year, 42 percent of American adults used some type of alternative care—herbal therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, massage therapy or any of a number of other methods not taught in medical school, according to a nationwide telephone survey …

—Jane E. Brody

Examples of massage therapy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The combination of gentle heat, vibration, and massage therapy across the forehead, eyebrows, and temples relaxes facial tension within minutes. —Wired, Wired News, 8 July 2025

Professions include architecture, nursing, biology, investment analysis, and massage therapy. —Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 3 July 2025

Some organizations even provide massage therapy as part of employee wellness programs, which also can prove invaluable. —John Graham Harper, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025

The studio offers a variety of services, including massage therapy, Thai bodywork, and yoga. Co-owners Billy Jernigan and Tina Abundis aim to provide holistic health services to the community. —Matthew Glowicki, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for massage therapy

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