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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Photodynamic Therapy Another option for wet AMD is photodynamic therapy, which ophthalmologists often use alongside anti-VEGF injections. Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 7 Apr. 2025 Patients may also receive broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, fever reducers and pain relievers. Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 7 Apr. 2025 Heather Malin, a therapy intern working at two high schools in the San Jose Unified School District, said that while schools have many resources available, students might struggle with a lack of direction. Nanki Kaur, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2025 Progress continues for new Charlotte center Some of the features for the 70,000-square-foot facility with 72 beds will include therapy rooms, group activity areas, a gym, tutoring center, salon, barbershop, animal therapy and outdoor spaces, The Charlotte Observer reported last year. Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 5 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for therapy

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Therapy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/therapy. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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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