therapeutic

[ ther-uh-pyoo-tik ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the treating or curing of disease; curative.

noun

1. a therapeutic substance.

therapeutic

/ ˌθɛrəˈpjuːtɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to the treatment of disease; curative
2. serving or performed to maintain health

   therapeutic abortion

Derived Forms

• ˌtheraˈpeutically, adverb

Other Words From

• thera·peuti·cal·ly adverb
• nonther·a·peutic adjective
• nonther·a·peuti·cal adjective
• nonther·a·peuti·cal·ly adverb
• unther·a·peutic adjective
• unther·a·peuti·cal adjective
• unther·a·peuti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of therapeutic¹

1535–45; < New Latin therapeuticus < Greek therapeutikós, equivalent to therapeú ( ein ) to attend, treat medically (akin to therápōn attendant) + -tikos -tic

Word History and Origins

Origin of therapeutic¹

C17: from New Latin therapeuticus, from Greek therapeutikos, from therapeuein to minister to, from theraps an attendant

Example Sentences

"HGF has numerous important functions in a variety of tissues and organs throughout the body. With further researcher we may be able to find other therapeutic applications of HGF in other pathologies."

From Science Daily

"This is a very safe therapeutic approach as it reduces the risk of side effects in the rest of the body, a problem with many other systemic drugs," Dr Muttenthaler said.

From Science Daily

The study also demonstrated that inhibiting PRDX6 could impair cancer cell survival, especially in neuroblastomas, offering a new potential therapeutic target.

From Science Daily

With emerging practices like narrative medicine and participatory action research, clinical health care spaces, therapeutic environments, and nonprofit workplaces have begun to embrace radical listening as a discipline.

From Salon

The sounds of laser guns from the nearby arcade join the predictable arc of the Ferris wheel in something that feels between nostalgic and therapeutic.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• beneficial
• curative
• remedial
• salutary