restorative

American  

[ri-stawr-uh-tiv, -stohr-] / rɪˈstɔr ə tɪv, -ˈstoʊr- /

adjective

1. serving to restore; pertaining to restoration.

2. capable of renewing health or strength.

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noun

restoratives plural

1. a restorative agent, means, or the like.

2. a means of restoring a person to consciousness.

   Smelling salts serve as a restorative.

restorative British  

/ rɪˈstɒrətɪv /

adjective

1. tending to revive or renew health, spirits, etc

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noun

1. anything that restores or revives, esp a drug or agent that promotes health or strength

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonrestorative
  adjective
• unrestorative
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• restoratives
  plural

Etymology

Origin of restorative

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English restoratif (adjective and noun), from Middle French restauratif, from Latin restaurāt(us) (past participle of restaurāre “to rebuild, repair”; see restore) + Middle French -if -ive

Explanation

Restorative things give you energy or make you feel better. Your dad might have a favorite restorative chicken soup he makes you whenever you have a cold. Antibiotics can be restorative to a patient with an infection, and a good night's sleep is almost always restorative, no matter how tired you are. If something brings you back to life or helps you recover, it's restorative. Sometimes people use this word as a noun, to mean "medicine for strength." Restorative has a Latin root, restaurare, "repair, rebuild, or renew."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

restorative restoratives

The East Stroudsburg Area School Board in Pennsylvania received a glowing 2025 restorative practices report from its director of secondary education, a “certified Restorative Practices trainer.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

"That restorative sleep is super important for physical repair, learning and memory and washing out the toxins of the day," Macauley said.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 20, 2026

“Couture’s” three principals rarely interact with one another, but those meaningful exchanges argue that, amid the mad clatter of the everyday, a brief, unguarded moment with a stranger can be supremely restorative.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026

Of course, if you can swing them, longer breaks do offer deep restorative benefits.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026

“Gabe,” Mom says like she’s beginning a business meeting, “we want you to know that we’re proud of you for taking responsibility for your actions and agreeing to participate in this restorative justice program.”

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

I call them restoratives, as they replenish and nourish me.

From New York Times ● Jan. 21, 2022

Chains such as Lush, the U.K.-based company with 200 U.S. stores, and Ulta Beauty, which has 1,100 stores, have both benefited from rising demand for moderately priced cosmetics, bath gels and other personal restoratives.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 20, 2020

Subsequently he was removed to Wagner’s hotel, where restoratives were administered by the attending physician.

From Slate ● Jun. 2, 2019

Barnips Lozenges, Coltsfoot Rock, and Teddy Gray's Herbal Tablets are among the old-fashioned restoratives still occupying a place in our medicine cabinets.

From BBC ● Dec. 26, 2016

Morlene assured herself that Harry was not seriously hurt, and administered restoratives which she had been thoughtful enough to bring along.

From Unfettered A Novel by Griggs, Sutton E. (Sutton Elbert)