holistic
Americanadjective
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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.
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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.
adjective
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of or relating to a doctrine of holism
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of or relating to the the medical consideration of the complete person, physically and psychologically, in the treatment of a disease
Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
- holistically adverb
Etymology
Origin of holistic
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Collagen may be best positioned not as an anti-wrinkle treatment, but for holistic maintenance for ageing and sun-damaged skin, say the researchers.
From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026
With a few more years, they could collectively end up being the world’s most expensive holistic health facility.
From Salon • Feb. 19, 2026
The new Altruist tool will not replace advisors as some investors fear because of the holistic nature of wealth management, RBC analyst Ben Bathurst said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026
Medications such as finasteride and minoxidil are widely prescribed, but concerns about side effects and long term use have pushed many patients to look for gentler, more holistic approaches.
From Science Daily • Feb. 9, 2026
This book explores a holistic, artistic, and integrated approach to understanding the developmental connections between music and children.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
