therapy
noun
ther·a·py
ˈther-ə-pē 
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
Friedrich K. Port2
: 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
Bruno Bettelheim and Alvin A. RosenfeldSynonyms
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
Red light therapy is a go-to in the skincare world and is praised for its ability to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin texture, and target inflammation—but does red light therapy actually work for hair growth?
—Jessie Quinn, Flow Space, 17 Feb. 2025
Statewide, molecular research into autism, therapies for brain aging and drug development all had indirect costs topping 40%.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2025
Was the Crystal of about 10 years ago also seeking therapy over Chad Michaels?
—EW.com, 15 Feb. 2025
Healing: Our therapy columnist advises a man wrangling with regret about being a bad father.
—Natasha Frost, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025
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Jessie Quinn, Flow Space, 17 Feb. 2025
Statewide, molecular research into autism, therapies for brain aging and drug development all had indirect costs topping 40%.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2025
Was the Crystal of about 10 years ago also seeking therapy over Chad Michaels?
—EW.com, 15 Feb. 2025
Healing: Our therapy columnist advises a man wrangling with regret about being a bad father.
—Natasha Frost, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for therapy
Articles Related to therapy
Dictionary Entries Near therapy
Cite this Entry
“Therapy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/therapy. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
therapy
noun
ther·a·py
ˈther-ə-pē
plural therapies
: treatment of an abnormal state of the mind or body
Medical Definition
therapy
noun
ther·a·py
ˈther-ə-pē
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
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