physical therapist
noun
plural physical therapists
: a person licensed to practice physical therapy : a health care professional who provides therapy to preserve, enhance, or restore movement and physical function that are impaired or threatened by disease, injury, or disability
… a physical therapist can show you exercises to maintain strength and movement in the affected area and may also use transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation …—
Self Healing
Self HealingWhile activity may worsen pain, activity directed by physical therapists, which may be done in therapy sessions and sometimes at home, provides some relief.—Schenectady (New York) Daily Gazette
—abbreviation PT
Schenectady (New York) Daily Gazettecalled also physiotherapist
Examples of physical therapist in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Speech, cognitive, behavioral and physical therapists come to the home to help Duvi every week.
—Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2025
When he was cleared to begin rehabbing, McNeill spent five months in San Diego with Derrick Samuel, a physical therapist the team recommended.
—Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
At Kaiser’s three area hospitals, the UNAC/UHCP represents nurse anesthetists, midwives, physician associates, acupuncture providers, physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists.
—Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Even ten minutes of morning movement coupled with short breaks for stretching (as a rule of thumb, physical therapists recommend doing some stretches every 20 minutes) can help keep your limbs loose and your mind focused.
—Calin Van Paris, Outside, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for physical therapist
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2025
When he was cleared to begin rehabbing, McNeill spent five months in San Diego with Derrick Samuel, a physical therapist the team recommended.
—Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
At Kaiser’s three area hospitals, the UNAC/UHCP represents nurse anesthetists, midwives, physician associates, acupuncture providers, physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists.
—Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Even ten minutes of morning movement coupled with short breaks for stretching (as a rule of thumb, physical therapists recommend doing some stretches every 20 minutes) can help keep your limbs loose and your mind focused.
—Calin Van Paris, Outside, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for physical therapist
Cite this Entry
“Physical therapist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/physical%20therapist. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share