holistic

Sometimes who·lis·tic

[hoh-lis-tik]

adjective

1. incorporating the concept of holism, or the idea that the whole is more than merely the sum of its parts, in theory or practice.

   holistic psychology.

2. Medicine/Medical.,  of or relating to a form of medicine, such as chiropractic or naturopathy, concerned with the care of the entire person in all aspects of well-being, including the physical, psychological, and social, rather than with diseases and symptoms in isolation, and often using natural or traditional remedies: Her holistic practitioner prescribed dietary changes and some relaxation exercises to reduce the frequency of her migraines.

   Someholistic medicine draws on traditional herbal preparations to maintain the health of different organs of the body.

   Her holistic practitioner prescribed dietary changes and some relaxation exercises to reduce the frequency of her migraines.

holistic

/ həʊˈlɪstɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to a doctrine of holism

2. of or relating to the the medical consideration of the complete person, physically and psychologically, in the treatment of a disease

Other Word Forms

• holistically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of holistic¹

First recorded in 1926; hol(ism) + -istic

Example Sentences

After reviewing the after-action report, she said she was pleased with its findings, calling it an “in depth” report that “delivered a holistic picture of what worked and what didn’t.”

From Los Angeles Times

Foodwise that's a balanced, holistic diet from the main food groups - fruit, vegetables, grains, proteins and dairy - and not going to extremes.

From BBC

The Belgian impresses when looking at the data, but it is important to assess his strengths and weaknesses holistically.

From BBC

The husband and wife duo — architect Charles and painter Ray — approached the project with the holistic, multidisciplinary thinking that they put into all their design work.

From Los Angeles Times

To transform Los Angeles into a sustainable and equitable city by 2050, we need a holistic approach that addresses climate challenges while fostering community well-being.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• comprehensive 
• integrated 

When To Use

What does holistic mean?

Holistic is an adjective that describes things related to the idea that the whole is more than the sum of its parts. In other words, that the entirety of something must be considered instead of just considering its parts.This philosophy is called holism, and that’s where the word holistic comes from. Holistic can be used generally to describe approaches that incorporate elements of holism, but it is especially used in the contexts of psychology and alternative medicine.Example: Chiropractors often take a holistic approach to treating injuries by considering the entire body instead of just the affected area.