Definition of palliative
: serving to palliate palliative surgery palliative care palliative drugs
palliatively
adverbFrom the M-W Editors
15th Century
First Known Use of palliative
15th century
Examples of palliative in a Sentence
The disease has no cure, but a number of palliatives exist.
Travel is like a palliative against depression for him.
symbolic palliatives for inner-city troubles
1656
First Known Use of palliative
1656
PALLIATIVE Defined for English Language Learners
palliative
Definition of palliative for English Language Learners
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medical : something that reduces the effects or symptoms of a medical condition without curing it
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: something that is intended to make a bad situation seem better but that does not really improve the situation
Medical Dictionary
Medical Definition of palliative
: reducing the severity of a disease or condition without curing it : providing palliative care palliative treatment Although valve replacement is an important advance in the treatment of patients with valve disease, it is a palliative rather than a curative procedure.—Robert A. O'Rourke, The Journal of the American Medical Association, 13 Aug. 1982
palliatively
adverbpalliative
Medical Definition of palliative
: something that reduces the severity of a disease or condition without curing it
Learn More about palliative
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See words that rhyme with palliative Spanish Central: Translation of palliative Nglish: Translation of palliative for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of palliative for Arabic speakers
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