therapeutic

[ther-uh-pyoo-tik]

adjective

1. of or relating to the treating or curing of disease; curative.

noun

1. a therapeutic substance.

therapeutic

/ ˌθɛrəˈpjuːtɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to the treatment of disease; curative

2. serving or performed to maintain health

   therapeutic abortion

Other Word Forms

• therapeutically adverb
• nontherapeutic adjective
• nontherapeutical adjective
• nontherapeutically adverb
• untherapeutic adjective
• untherapeutical adjective
• untherapeutically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of therapeutic¹

1535–45; < New Latin therapeuticus < Greek therapeutikós, equivalent to therapeú ( ein ) to attend, treat medically (akin to therápōn attendant) + -tikos -tic

Word History and Origins

Origin of therapeutic¹

C17: from New Latin therapeuticus, from Greek therapeutikos, from therapeuein to minister to, from theraps an attendant

Example Sentences

However, patients said some workers failed to provide appropriate therapeutic support.

From BBC

Some of the men tried to play cool until Hansen took out their chat transcripts; others sobbed and asked for therapeutic help.

From Los Angeles Times

“Creativity is so therapeutic. People get it crushed out of them, but there’s room for everyone. Music belongs to the people. And everyone loves Beatles songs.”

From Salon

“I definitely didn’t envision it as a stream of income. It was therapeutic,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Its therapeutic benefits are increasingly recognised in palliative and end of life care.

From BBC

Related Words

• beneficial 
• curative 
• remedial 
• salutary