curative

adjective

cu·​ra·​tive ˈkyu̇r-ə-tiv 

ˈkyər-

1

: relating to or used in the cure of diseases : tending to cure

2

law : serving to correct or negate

We have instructed that if a complaint is vulnerable to … dismissal, a district court must permit a curative amendment, unless an amendment would be inequitable or futile.

—Phillips v. County of Allegheny, 515 F. 3d 224 (3rd Cir. 2008)

curative noun

curatively adverb

Did you know?

Medical researchers are finding curative substances in places that surprise them. Folklore has led to some "new" cures of old diseases, and natural substances never before tried have often proved effective. Quinine, which comes from a tree in the Andes, was the original drug for malaria; aspirin's main ingredient came from willow bark; and Taxol, a drug used in treating several cancers, was originally extracted from the bark of a yew tree. The curative properties of these natural drugs are today duplicated in the laboratory.

Synonyms

• medicinal
• therapeutic

Examples of curative in a Sentence

an herb believed to have curative powers

some believe that the herb has curative properties

Recent Examples on the Web

The only curative treatment is to remove the diseased part of the colon—ideally in a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure, performed with surgical tools and a thin camera inserted through small incisions. —IEEE Spectrum, 21 May 2025

What has remained consistent is that a short walk by even a spot of trees or some lapping water can be curative for me. —Liesel Davis, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 June 2025

Pharmacies that sold curative tonics started adding sweeteners and other syrups; then, serving the mixtures got easier. —Liza Weisstuch, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2025

Amid unsettling changes, Americans touted the curative powers of the natural world, fueling the call for outdoor exercise and recreation, and laying the groundwork for the astounding growth of national and state park tourism. —Time, 3 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Medieval Latin cūrātīvus, from Latin cūrātus, past participle of cūrāre "to watch over, attend, treat (sick persons), restore to health" + -īvus -ive — more at cure entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for curative

• durative
• suppurative

Kids Definition

curative

adjective

cu·​ra·​tive ˈkyu̇r-ət-iv 

: relating to or used in the cure of diseases

curative treatments

Medical Definition

curative

adjective

cu·​ra·​tive ˈkyu̇r-ət-iv 

: relating to or used in the cure of diseases

curative noun

curatively adverb

Legal Definition

curative

adjective

cu·​ra·​tive ˈkyu̇r-ə-tiv 

: serving or intended to cure defects

curative instructions to the jury