rehabilitation
noun
re·ha·bil·i·ta·tion
ˌrē-ə-ˌbi-lə-ˈtā-shən 
ˌrē-hə-
plural rehabilitations
: the action, process, or result of rehabilitating or of being rehabilitated: such as
a
: restoration especially by therapeutic means to an improved condition of physical function
MCL injuries alone rarely necessitate surgery and heal with rest and rehabilitation.—
Shira Springer
Shira SpringerThe handsome barn-style building is used as a wildlife rehabilitation center, so you'll see mending hawks, eagles, or owls perching.—Lora J. Finnegan
Lora J. Finnegan
also
: the process of restoring a person to a drug- or alcohol-free state
… the tabloid feeding frenzy surrounding his drug bust and ensuing rehabilitation for heroin addiction last year. —Joyce Millman
Joyce Millman
b
: the process of restoring someone (such as a criminal) to a useful and constructive place in society
the rehabilitation of prisoners
a prison rehabilitation program
c
: the restoration of something damaged or deteriorated to a prior good condition
the rehabilitation of the neighborhood
the rehabilitation of a person's reputation
Synonyms
Examples of rehabilitation in a Sentence
his rehabilitation from the flu was brief, and he was up and working again within a few days
Recent Examples on the Web
The children's father is in a rehabilitation facility.
—Stepheny Price, Fox News, 30 Oct. 2024
Intensive rehabilitation followed, first at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, to address cognitive and physical challenges, before returning to California for outpatient therapy.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024
This constant state of intense hunger, known as hyperphagia, could lead bears to food sources in human developments, according to the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center, a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organization.
—John Leos, The Arizona Republic, 2 Nov. 2024
One of the most impactful initiatives was the establishment of a dedicated rehabilitation program for raptors during my time as Director of Land Animals and Vice President at Marine World/Africa USA.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rehabilitation 
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.
Stepheny Price, Fox News, 30 Oct. 2024
Intensive rehabilitation followed, first at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, to address cognitive and physical challenges, before returning to California for outpatient therapy.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024
This constant state of intense hunger, known as hyperphagia, could lead bears to food sources in human developments, according to the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center, a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organization.
—John Leos, The Arizona Republic, 2 Nov. 2024
One of the most impactful initiatives was the establishment of a dedicated rehabilitation program for raptors during my time as Director of Land Animals and Vice President at Marine World/Africa USA.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rehabilitation
Dictionary Entries Near rehabilitation
Cite this Entry
“Rehabilitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rehabilitation. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
rehabilitation
noun
re·ha·bil·i·ta·tion
ˌrē-(h)ə-ˌbil-ə-ˈtā-shən
often attributive
1
: the action or process of rehabilitating or of being rehabilitated: as
a
: the physical restoration of a sick or disabled person by therapeutic measures and reeducation to participation in the activities of a normal life within the limitations of the person's physical disability
rehabilitation after coronary occlusion
b
: the process of restoring an individual to a useful and constructive place in society especially through some form of vocational, correctional, or therapeutic retraining
2
: the result of rehabilitating : the state of being rehabilitated
rehabilitation of the patient
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share