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

While 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

called also physiotherapist

Examples of physical therapist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

During court proceedings in Clark County, Hamade was identified as a dentist from Dearborn, Michigan, while Harb works as a disc jockey and Sobh works as a physical therapist. —Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026

Schwarzenegger and the physical therapist met through a medical referral when the actor underwent shoulder surgery in 2012 for the 2013 Sylvester Stallone film Escape Plan. —Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 17 June 2026

Here are the four simple habits Wickham and Tyler Moldoff, DPT, OCS, a physical therapist at New York’s Hospital for Special Surgery, recommend for better posture. —Danielle Zickl, Health, 15 June 2026

Hickey, who was 26 at the time and working as a physical therapist, alleges the injuries substantially affected her earning capacity and future career prospects. —Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for physical therapist

• physiotherapist
• psychotherapist

Kids Definition

physical therapist

noun

: a person who is a specialist in physical therapy

Medical Definition

physical therapist

noun

: 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

—abbreviation PT

called also physiotherapist