phototherapy

noun

pho·​to·​ther·​a·​py ˌfō-tō-ˈther-ə-pē How to pronounce phototherapy (audio)

Examples of phototherapy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Those treatments can range from prescription topical creams, which are often steroids, to oral medications, injectables, and even phototherapy. Lynya Floyd, Allure, 23 May 2025 Spray-on tans and phototherapy services (those used for medical reasons) are exempt from the tax. Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025 In our cover story, journalist Rowan Jacobsen introduces us to Kathy Reagan Young, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2008 and took up phototherapy relatively recently. Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 20 May 2025 In October 2024, in a study published in JAMA Dermatology, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found that patients can improve their psoriasis just as well at home with phototherapy devices that are designed to be easy to self administer. Marisa Meltzer, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for phototherapy

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of phototherapy was in 1899

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Cite this Entry

“Phototherapy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phototherapy. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Medical Definition

phototherapy

noun
pho·​to·​ther·​a·​py -ˈther-ə-pē How to pronounce phototherapy (audio)
plural phototherapies
: the application of light for therapeutic purposes

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