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Synonyms

rehabilitation

British  
/ ˌriːəˌbɪlɪˈteɪʃən /

noun

  1. the act or process of rehabilitating

  2. med

    1. the treatment of physical disabilities by massage, electrotherapy, or exercises

    2. ( as modifier )

      rehabilitation centre

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

rehabilitation Cultural  
  1. In politics, the restoration to favor of a political leader whose views or actions were formerly considered unacceptable. (Compare nonperson.)


Explanation

Rehabilitation is the act of restoring something to its original state, like the rehabilitation of the forest that had once been cleared for use as an amusement park. The noun rehabilitation comes from the Latin prefix re-, meaning “again” and habitare, meaning “make fit.” When something falls in to disrepair and needs to be restored to a better condition, it needs rehabilitation. People seek rehabilitation after an accident or surgery to restore their strength, or to learn to live without drugs or other addictive substances or behaviors.

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Vocabulary lists containing rehabilitation

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.

It only covers medical and limited rehabilitation costs.

From MarketWatch • May 13, 2026

Australia is not alone in its reluctance to help these women and children: many others, including the UK, have also been wrestling with questions of security, rehabilitation and political responsibility.

From BBC • May 8, 2026

Utilityman Kiké Hernández and reliever Brusdar Graterol began rehabilitation assignments this week.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

"Our goal is not only to hold individuals accountable, but to support long-term behavioral change through treatment and rehabilitation," he said in a statement.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

They had heard of my rehabilitation work in Holland, he said, and they wondered—I was opening my mouth to say that I had no professional training in such things, when his next words silenced me.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

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