palliative

1 of 2

adjective

pal·​li·​a·​tive ˈpa-lē-ˌā-tiv  ˈpal-yə- 

: serving to palliate

palliative surgery

palliative care

palliative drugs

palliatively adverb

palliative

2 of 2

noun

: something that palliates

Examples of palliative in a Sentence

Noun

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

With unique challenges in treating aging populations, SilverStone's integrated model—which includes home health, palliative care and hospice—uses AI to help ensure a smooth transition between different levels of care. —Jennifer Sanders, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025

As of June 2025, the reward for information leading to Falconio's remains was doubled to 500,000 Australian dollars (about $330,000) after news emerged that Murdoch was in palliative care. —Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025

Noun

End-of-life patients in palliative or hospice care would also qualify for the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP), as the state’s medical cannabis program is known. —A.j. Herrington, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025

End-of-life patients in palliative or hospice care would qualify patients for the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP), as the current state medical cannabis program is known. —A.j. Herrington, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1656, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

palliative

1 of 2 adjective

pal·​li·​a·​tive ˈpal-ē-ˌāt-iv  ˈpal-yət- 

: serving to palliate

palliative

2 of 2 noun

: something that palliates

Medical Definition

palliative

1 of 2 adjective

pal·​lia·​tive ˈpal-ē-ˌāt-iv  ˈpal-yət- 

: 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

palliatively adverb

palliative

2 of 2 noun

: something that reduces the severity of a disease or condition without curing it