acupuncture
noun
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In Latin, acus means "needle", and the English word acupuncture was coined way back in the 17th century to describe a technique the Chinese had already been using for 2,000 years. An acupuncturist may insert many extremely fine needles at a time; the treatment is usually uncomfortable but not truly painful. In China today, even major surgery is often carried out using only acupuncture to kill the pain; it's also used for many other conditions, including insomnia, depression, smoking, and overweight. Acupuncture is based on ancient theories of bodily energy that few Western doctors have ever accepted; but even though attempts to explain its effects by Western science have been unsuccessful, it's now widely recognized by doctors as effective for pain reduction.
Examples of acupuncture in a Sentence
Daryl Austin, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2025
Guests can receive facials, lymphatic drainage treatments, acupuncture, not-toxic nailcare, as well as Reiki and other types of energy healing.
—Sherrie Nachman, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
In traditional Eastern Medicine, cupping therapy is closely associated with acupuncture.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 4 Apr. 2025
The city’s day spas and med spas offer everything from oxygen therapies to acupuncture to Botox and all do so in an incredibly soothing environment.
—Sherrie Nachman, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for acupuncture
Cite this Entry
“Acupuncture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acupuncture. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
acupuncture
noun
Latin acus "needle" and English puncture
Medical Definition
acupuncture
noun
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