homeopathy

American  

[hoh-mee-op-uh-thee] / ˌhoʊ miˈɒp ə θi /

noun

1. the method of treating disease by drugs, given in minute doses, that would produce in a healthy person symptoms similar to those of the disease (opposed to allopathy).

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homeopathy British  

/ ˌhəʊmɪˈɒpəθɪ /

noun

1. a method of treating disease by the use of small amounts of a drug that, in healthy persons, produces symptoms similar to those of the disease being treated Compare allopathy

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homeopathy Scientific  

/ hō′mē-ŏp′ə-thē /

1. A nontraditional system for treating and preventing disease, in which minute amounts of a substance that in large amounts causes disease symptoms are given to healthy individuals. This is thought to enhance the body's natural defenses.

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homeopathy Cultural  

1. A system of treating disease in which small doses of certain substances are administered; in large doses, given to a healthy person, these substances would produce the symptoms of the disease. The principles of homeopathy do not enjoy widespread acceptance in the medical community.

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Other Word Forms

• homeopathist
  noun
• homeopathic
  adjective
• homeopathically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of homeopathy

First recorded in 1820–30; homeo- + -pathy

Compare meaning

How does homeopathy compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• homeopathy vs. allopathy

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

homeopathy

An “intuitive wellness practitioner” who said she was trained in nutrition, botanical medicine and homeopathy, promised to get to the root cause of my itching.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 13, 2026

These treatments range from acupuncture and homeopathy, to aromatherapy, meditation and colonic irrigation.

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2024

After leaving school at 16, he spent time modeling and worked as an assistant to the photographer Helmut Newton before shifting his focus to homeopathy and phytotherapy and finally retraining as a nose.

From New York Times ● May 24, 2022

I couldn't do that, so I tried lots of different measures instead: restricted diets, cold water immersion, acupuncture, homeopathy.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2021

Don Apolinar Moscote made fun of his faith in homeopathy, but those who were in on the plot recognized another one of their people in him.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez