chiropractic

American  

[kahy-ruh-prak-tik] / ˌkaɪ rəˈpræk tɪk /

noun

1. a therapeutic system based primarily upon the interactions of the spine and nervous system, the method of treatment usually being to adjust the segments of the spinal column.

2. a chiropractor.

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chiropractic British  

/ ˌkaɪrəˈpræktɪk /

noun

1. a system of treating bodily disorders by manipulation of the spine and other parts, based on the belief that the cause is the abnormal functioning of a nerve

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chiropractic Cultural  

1. A system of treating disease and musculoskeletal disorders that involves manipulation of the backbone and other body parts. In chiropractic, disorders of the nerves are considered the cause of illness.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• chiropractor
  noun

Etymology

Origin of chiropractic

1895–1900, chiro- + -practic < Greek praktikós; see practical

Example Sentences

Ardis, who typically goes by Dr. Bryan Ardis, though he does not have a medical degree, is a chiropractor with a doctorate of chiropractic from Parker University in Texas.

From Salon • Jan. 9, 2026

When Betancur opened his chiropractic practice in the early 2000s, a loan servicer advised him to put his federal student loans into a payment pause to get his business off the ground, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 1, 2025

Vet-affiliated treatments include acupuncture, hydrotherapy and chiropractic care.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 21, 2025

In the UK, apart from chiropractic, there is no professional statutory regulation of the complementary and alternative medicine sector.

From BBC • Jul. 31, 2024

In the United States, he’d put himself through two years of chiropractic school, and now ran a small office in Birmingham with a human skeleton he was still paying for in installments.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides