rehabilitation

British  

/ ˌriːəˌbɪlɪˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of rehabilitating

2. med

   1. the treatment of physical disabilities by massage, electrotherapy, or exercises

   2. ( as modifier )

      rehabilitation centre

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rehabilitation Cultural  

1. In politics, the restoration to favor of a political leader whose views or actions were formerly considered unacceptable. (Compare nonperson.)

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Explanation

Rehabilitation is the act of restoring something to its original state, like the rehabilitation of the forest that had once been cleared for use as an amusement park. The noun rehabilitation comes from the Latin prefix re-, meaning “again” and habitare, meaning “make fit.” When something falls in to disrepair and needs to be restored to a better condition, it needs rehabilitation. People seek rehabilitation after an accident or surgery to restore their strength, or to learn to live without drugs or other addictive substances or behaviors.

Example Sentences

Ceramics and seals bearing his likeness attest to his rehabilitation, at least in his native land.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

"Our goal is not only to hold individuals accountable, but to support long-term behavioral change through treatment and rehabilitation," he said in a statement.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

It was the end of his career in single-seater racing, but he set upon an extensive rehabilitation programme and was fitted with prosthetic limbs.

From BBC • May 2, 2026

It was while operating on those aerial artists that he learned an approach that left the repaired tendon tighter than the one in the healthy leg, so that the rehabilitation process wouldn’t stretch it slack.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

He thought of his friend, who had been so close to his rehabilitation goals, and he stood up.

From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro

Related Words

• improvement
• overhaul
• reclamation
• reconstruction
• recovery
• repair