therapy

noun

ther·​a·​py ˈther-ə-pē 

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, 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

Synonyms

• antidote
• corrective
• curative
• cure
• rectifier
• remedy
• therapeutic

Example Sentences

He is undergoing cancer therapy.

talking over my problem with you has been good therapy

Recent Examples on the Web

Zach Braff is getting candid about the impact of therapy on his life. —Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 31 Jan. 2023

In its first clinical trial, six patients with non-Hodgkins lymphoma had no detectable cancer after a single dose of the therapy, Haurwitz said. —Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2023

Lucid Dream follows Dae-ho, who learns of a new form of therapy three years after his son is kidnapped. —Stacey Grant, Seventeen, 30 Jan. 2023

Many children, even those who are not born prematurely can grow leaps and bounds from extra love and support by way of therapy. —Amy Shoenthal, Forbes, 27 Jan. 2023

The dearth of drugs available for patients with compromised immune systems has renewed interest in convalescent plasma, an old-school version of antibody therapy first explored in the opening days of the pandemic. —Melissa Healystaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2023

Kathy Fennimore, 62, has overcome her post-COVID-19 conditions, also known as long COVID-19, after months of therapy. —Caroline Catherman, Orlando Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2023

In adulthood, Harry has spoken frequently about the importance of therapy in his life and has become much more open about sharing his emotions. —Time, 11 Jan. 2023

Getty Images Grab a bottle of body oil, set the mood with candles and relaxing background music, and give your partner at least 30 minutes of massage therapy. —Rebekah Lowin, Country Living, 9 Jan. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

New Latin therapia, from Greek therapeia, from therapeuein

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing therapy

• androgen deprivation therapy
• aversion therapy
• behavior therapy
• cognitive behavior therapy
• chelation therapy
• cognitive behavioral therapy
• couples therapy
• conversion therapy
• combination therapy
• cognitive therapy
• electroconvulsive therapy
• estrogen replacement therapy
• group therapy
• gene therapy
• hormone replacement therapy
• massage therapy
• music therapy
• occupational therapy
• physical therapy
• play therapy
• polarity therapy
• primal scream therapy
• radium therapy
• reparative therapy
• replacement therapy
• self-therapy
• shock therapy
• speech therapy
• talk therapy
• X-ray therapy
• art therapy
• craniosacral therapy
• light therapy
• electroshock therapy
• radiation therapy
• hormone therapy
• behavioral therapy

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• androgen deprivation therapy
• aversion therapy
• behavior therapy
• cognitive behavior therapy
• chelation therapy
• cognitive behavioral therapy
• couples therapy
• conversion therapy
• combination therapy
• cognitive therapy
• electroconvulsive therapy
• estrogen replacement therapy
• group therapy
• gene therapy
• hormone replacement therapy
• massage therapy
• music therapy
• occupational therapy
• physical therapy
• play therapy
• polarity therapy
• primal scream therapy
• radium therapy
• reparative therapy
• replacement therapy
• self-therapy
• shock therapy
• speech therapy
• talk therapy
• X-ray therapy
• art therapy
• craniosacral therapy
• light therapy
• electroshock therapy
• radiation therapy
• hormone therapy
• behavioral therapy

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Kids Definition

therapy

noun

ther·​a·​py ˈther-ə-pē 

plural therapies

: treatment of an abnormal state of the mind or body

Medical Definition

therapy

noun

ther·​a·​py ˈther-ə-pē 

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