palliative

[pal-ee-ey-tiv, -ee-uh-tiv]

adjective

1. serving to palliate.

noun

1. something that palliates.

palliative

/ ˈpælɪətɪv /

adjective

1. serving to palliate; relieving without curing

noun

1. something that palliates, such as a sedative drug or agent

Other Word Forms

• palliatively adverb
• nonpalliative adjective
• nonpalliatively adverb
• unpalliative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of palliative¹

From the French word palliatif, dating back to 1535–45. See palliate, -ive

Example Sentences

Gemma said the palliative team at the hospice have supported him and "been incredible and guided us every step of the way".

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Music therapy is not new to medicine; it has long been used in psychiatry, stroke rehabilitation and palliative care.

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A palliative care nurse in Germany has been sentenced to life in prison after he was convicted of the murder of 10 patients and the attempted murder of 27 others.

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The “Union-at-any-cost” language proved to be a palliative, softening the political ground for what was to come.

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Follow-up scans initially showed no evidence of cancer but later tests discovered the tumour was growing back and he is now receiving palliative care at home.

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Related Words

• apology 
• approval 
• argument 
• basis 
• confirmation 
• explanation 
• pretext 
• rationale 
• rationalization 
• vindication