curative

[ kyoor-uh-tiv ]

adjective

1. serving to cure or heal; pertaining to curing or remedial treatment; remedial.

noun

1. a curative agent; remedy.

curative

/ ˈkjʊərətɪv /

adjective

1. able or tending to cure

noun

1. anything able to heal or cure

Derived Forms

• ˈcurativeness, noun
• ˈcuratively, adverb

Other Words From

• cura·tive·ly adverb
• non·cura·tive adjective
• non·cura·tive·ly adverb
• non·cura·tive·ness noun
• sub·cura·tive noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of curative¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Middle French curatif < Medieval Latin cūrātīvus, equivalent to Late Latin cūrāt ( us ) (past participle of curāre to care for, attend to; cure ); -ive

Example Sentences

If tech companies are minimally willing to put people’s needs over profit, like using smarter A.I. or their swell of data to more mindfully match users—and, simultaneously, if people lean less on tech and do more internal work to become healthier daters—we could cultivate a more curative dating environment where people are more tactfully matched with “the one.”

From Slate

So when my oncologist used the words "curative intent" in a meeting to discuss treatment, I felt a huge weight lift off my chest.

From BBC

"This is significant for patients as it represents a curative, de-intensified option compared to traditional radiation therapy."

From Science Daily

Zofia Matyjaszkiewicz, Collections Manager at the Roman Baths and a co-author of the new study, added: "People have visited the springs in Bath for thousands of years, worshipping at, bathing in and drinking the waters over the centuries. Even in the Victorian period the Spa Treatment Centre in Bath used the natural spring waters for their perceived curative properties in all sorts of showers, baths and treatments. It's really exciting to see cutting edge scientific research like this taking place here, on a site with so many stories to tell."

From Science Daily

“That was a blatant and wholly inappropriate effort to call sympathy for their client,” he said, requesting a curative instruction, The New York Times reported.

From Salon

Related Words

• corrective
• healthful
• invigorating
• medicinal
• remedial
• salutary
• therapeutic