treatment
noun
treat·ment
ˈtrēt-mənt 
plural treatments
1
: the act or manner or an instance of treating someone or something: such as
a
: conduct or behavior towards another
The actor requires careful treatment.
… he always treated people with whom he disagreed with utmost civility and never allowed his scholarly predispositions to interfere with respectful treatment of students holding differing views.—
LSA [Linguistic Society of America] Bulletin
LSA [Linguistic Society of America] Bulletin
b
: the action or manner of dealing with something (such as a topic) often in a specified way
… the best and most comprehensive treatment of American foreign oil policy that has so far been written.—Burton I. Kaufman
Burton I. Kaufman… cinematic treatments of organized crime as GoodFellas, Godfather III and Miller's Crossing.—Ralph Novak
Ralph Novak… most of us readers assume that this conflict of interest is the reason PC Magazine reviews of Microsoft products are softball treatments that in no way reflect the actual experiences of users, who are plagued with constant program crashes.—Joseph Kristl
Joseph Kristl
c
: the action or way of treating a patient or a condition medically or surgically : management and care to prevent, cure, ameliorate, or slow progression of a medical condition
treatment of accident victims
palliative treatment of inoperable cancer
treatment of a blocked artery
infertility treatments
treatment of diabetic patients
also
: an instance of treating a patient or medical condition
patients requiring numerous chemotherapy treatments
Removal of the skin growth required a single treatment.
d
: subjection of something to the action of an agent or process
sewage treatment
It is the most economical and practical method of purification and treatment of water.—Business Insider (online)
Business Insider (online)a wastewater treatment plant
2
a
: a therapeutic agent, therapy, or procedure used to treat a medical condition
Placebos—medical treatments that contain no active ingredients—have triggered an outbreak of controversy …—Science News
Science News
b
: something (such as a product or technique) used in treating, enhancing, or improving the performance, condition, or appearance of someone or something
exfoliating skin treatments
He cares about the condition of hair, invents treatments as well as styles, and has brought out a special hair-care product made of bone marrow.—Vogue
VogueRegularly apply a waterproofing treatment suitable for the boot whether it be normal leather, nubuck or suede.—Rodney Chester
Rodney ChesterWainscoting is paneling that lines the lower part of the walls in a room. This decorative treatment usually goes as high as chair rail height, but can be raised higher for a more elegant wall treatment.—Denise Freese
Denise Freese3
: the techniques or actions customarily applied in a specified situation: such as
a
: the provision (such as by a store or restaurant) of the goods or services associated with a visit, fee, or order
The party received special treatment at the restaurant.
"If you want luxury goods, then walking into a Gucci or Prada or Cartier and getting the full treatment and sitting on the cushy leather banquette is part of the experience," says freelance writer and fashion aficionada Lisbeth Levine.—Robin Givhan
Robin Givhan
b
: a pattern of actions (such as the bestowal of gifts and favors) designed to reward, encourage, or convince
… he has been getting the standard treatment of cocktail parties, press interviews and deals with advertisers …—Time
TimeIn those early days, [Gerald] Ford was invited to the White House by the natty, peppery Harry Truman, who wanted $5 million to renovate the crumbling building. Ford got the full treatment, with amateur architect Truman pointing out sagging floors and the lack of closets. Truman got his money.—Hugh Sidey
Hugh Sidey
c
: a pattern of actions (such as insults or physical punishment) designed to punish or persuade
—used especially in phrases like get the treatment and give (someone) the treatment
When asked what MI [Military Intelligence] said, he [Sergeant Javal S. Davis] stated: "Loosen this guy up for us. Make sure he has a bad night. Make sure he gets the treatment."—Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles TimesSome of the cops at the station house were ready to take him into a back room and give him "the treatment" for passing himself off as one of them.—William McGowan
William McGowanInstead, the press corps closed their minds and treated dissenters like pariahs to coerce conformity. NBC News got the full treatment when it dared to break ranks.—Michael Goodwin
Michael GoodwinExamples of treatment in a Sentence
We want to ensure equal treatment for everyone.
The law requires humane treatment of prisoners.
It's a complicated issue that requires careful treatment.
The book's treatment of this important issue is unimpressive.
Previous treatments of this topic have ignored some key issues.
The patient required immediate medical treatment.
She is receiving treatment for cancer.
The drug has been approved as a treatment for AIDS.
Recent Examples on the Web
Stepping out publicly for the first time since completing her cancer treatment, Kate recently wore a pair of discreetly glamorous gold fern earrings that have long been in her collection — but on this occasion held new meaning.
—Monique Jessen, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
The 61-year-old actor posted a photo on social media wearing a bald cap alongside a bald Coulier, who preemptively shaved his head before his treatment started.
—Caroline Thayer, Fox News, 19 Nov. 2024
Throughout the year, Halsey has been navigating the process of returning to her normal slate of responsibilities as a pop star after two years of undergoing medical treatments.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2024
The couple made their first official appearance after her treatment in Southport, a town in the northwest of England, on October 11, 2024.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 18 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for treatment 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Monique Jessen, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
The 61-year-old actor posted a photo on social media wearing a bald cap alongside a bald Coulier, who preemptively shaved his head before his treatment started.
—Caroline Thayer, Fox News, 19 Nov. 2024
Throughout the year, Halsey has been navigating the process of returning to her normal slate of responsibilities as a pop star after two years of undergoing medical treatments.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2024
The couple made their first official appearance after her treatment in Southport, a town in the northwest of England, on October 11, 2024.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 18 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for treatment
Articles Related to treatment
Dictionary Entries Near treatment
Cite this Entry
“Treatment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/treatment. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
treatment
noun
treat·ment
ˈtrēt-mənt
1
: the act or manner or an instance of treating someone or something
the antiques require careful treatment
2
: a substance or method used in treating
a beauty treatment
waste treatment plant
Medical Definition
treatment
noun
treat·ment
ˈtrēt-mənt
1
: the action or way of treating a patient or a condition medically or surgically : management and care to prevent, cure, ameliorate, or slow progression of a medical condition
palliative treatment of advanced, inoperable cancer
treatment of burn victims
infertility treatments
2
: an instance of treating a patient or medical condition
a study concerning the efficacy of chemotherapy treatments
Removal of the skin growth required a single treatment.
3
a
: a therapeutic agent, therapy, or procedure used to treat a medical condition
a controversial medical treatment
b
: something (such as a product or technique) used in treating, enhancing, or improving the performance, condition, or appearance of someone or something
exfoliating skin treatments
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