palliative

[ pal-ee-ey-tiv, -ee-uh-tiv ]

adjective

1. serving to palliate.

noun

1. something that palliates.

palliative

/ ˈpælɪətɪv /

adjective

1. serving to palliate; relieving without curing

noun

1. something that palliates, such as a sedative drug or agent

Derived Forms

• ˈpalliatively, adverb

Other Words From

• palli·ative·ly adverb
• non·palli·ative adjective
• non·palli·ative·ly adverb
• un·palli·ative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of palliative¹

From the French word palliatif, dating back to 1535–45. See palliate, -ive

Example Sentences

Jhaimy requested a consultation with the palliative care team, which specializes in helping critically ill patients and their families make treatment decisions.

From ProPublica

Several patients who were sent home for palliative care rebounded and lived, thanks to the presence and support of their friends and family who couldn't be with them inside of the hospital, the officials said.

From ProPublica

A day later, Winston’s family got a call from a member of the palliative care team, recommending she move to hospice, they said.

From ProPublica

He said he would be “very worried about trying to manage that” in home hospice, and that dying patients at his hospital were provided palliative support through an inpatient program.

From ProPublica

The palliative care service was available to patients from hospitals across New York City.

From ProPublica

Palliative sedation would have relieved her pain, it is true.

From The Daily Beast

She said, 'I have learnt that delivering the best possible palliative care to children is vital.

From The Daily Beast

Yet now, Obama has need for more—much more—than a jolly, ruddy dude who serves as a racial palliative.

From The Daily Beast

I found a solution in palliative care—which is dedicated to minimizing pain and keeping the chronically ill out of the hospital.

From The Daily Beast

This is palliative care—a return of some control to people during a passage in life that is uncontrollable.

From The Daily Beast

Yes, but in my friend's opinion, as you will see if you read on a little further, this journey is only a palliative measure.

From Project Gutenberg

So palliative; but all the stark wickedness that actually gives the momentum to national actors.

From Project Gutenberg

No measure, therefore, could be more than a palliative until they got a "Republican" system of education.

From Project Gutenberg

No ameliorative, no palliative, no restrictive, no remedial measure will avail.

From Project Gutenberg

The operation is useful as a diagnostic or palliative measure.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• apology
• approval
• argument
• basis
• confirmation
• explanation
• pretext
• rationale
• rationalization
• vindication