therapy

noun

ther·​a·​py ˈther-ə-pē How to pronounce therapy (audio)
plural therapies
1
: therapeutic medical treatment of impairment, injury, disease, or disorder
The number of new patients treated for end-stage renal disease … with dialysis or renal transplantation has continued to rise exponentially with an 8.4% annualized growth rate reaching more than 160,000 patients undergoing therapy in the United States in 1989.Friedrich K. Port
see also art therapy, chelation therapy, chemotherapy, gene therapy, hormone therapy, music therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, shock therapy, speech therapy
2
: psychotherapy
Furthermore, the psychotherapist knows that all actions in therapy are messages that need be decoded and understood regardless of the 'language' the patient uses.Bruno Bettelheim and Alvin A. Rosenfeld

Examples of therapy in a Sentence

He is undergoing cancer therapy. talking over my problem with you has been good therapy
Recent Examples on the Web As a bonus, every purchase of this swing provides funding for the University of Washington Autism Center on Human Development & Disability, which offers therapy for autistic kids, conducts research, and trains parents and caregivers. Laura Lu, Ms, Parents, 6 Mar. 2024 Engage in a little retail therapy or buy tickets to a live show. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 Practitioners warn that ibogaine therapy is not for everyone. Andrew Jacobs, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 Atlantic offers medication management, individual therapy and group therapy as part of their outpatient program, and Welch has been active in encouraging patients as part of the new partnership. Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 5 Mar. 2024 Stephanie Dasher is the executive director of Warrior Surf Foundation, a nonprofit that provides surf therapy to veterans. Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 3 Mar. 2024 Other acne treatment options include oral isotretinoin (Accutane) for severe acne and hormonal therapy such as spironolactone with oral contraceptives for girls with moderate acne. Casey Gallagher, Verywell Health, 2 Mar. 2024 The center has completed drawings to convert the first and second floors into classroom and therapy rooms along with offices. Sue Kiesewetter, The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024 This way of thinking creates an aversion to seeking therapy, diagnoses, and follow-up care. Jazmin Towe, Parents, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'therapy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin therapia, from Greek therapeia, from therapeuein

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of therapy was in 1838

Dictionary Entries Near therapy

Cite this Entry

“Therapy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/therapy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

therapy

noun
ther·​a·​py ˈther-ə-pē How to pronounce therapy (audio)
plural therapies
: treatment of an abnormal state of the mind or body

Medical Definition

therapy

noun
ther·​a·​py ˈther-ə-pē How to pronounce therapy (audio)
plural therapies
: therapeutic treatment: as
a
: remedial treatment of mental or bodily disorder
b
: an agency (as treatment) designed or serving to bring about rehabilitation or social adjustment see occupational therapy, recreational therapy

More from Merriam-Webster on therapy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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