definitions

therapeutic

[ ther-uh-pyoo-tik ]
/ ˌθɛr əˈpyu tɪk /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR therapeutic ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective Also ther·a·peu·ti·cal.

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

noun

a therapeutic substance.

RELATED CONTENT

The Most Satisfying Words To Say In EnglishThe next time you're having a rough day, take a deep breath and try one of these cathartic words. And if that doesn't work, try louder!
READ MORE
ketoRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

curative, beneficial, salutary, remedial, good, corrective, restorative, analeptic, salubrious, ameliorative, sanative

Nearby words

theosophy, theotocopoulos, theotokos, thera, theralite, therapeutic, therapeutic abortion, therapeutic cloning, therapeutic crisis, therapeutic index, therapeutic ratio

Origin of therapeutic

1535–45; < New Latin therapeuticus < Greek therapeutikós, equivalent to therapeú(ein) to attend, treat medically (akin to therápōn attendant) + -tikos -tic
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for therapeutic

British Dictionary definitions for therapeutic

therapeutic

/ (ˌθɛrəˈpjuːtɪk) /

adjective

of or relating to the treatment of disease; curative
serving or performed to maintain healththerapeutic abortion
Derived Formstherapeutically, adverb

Word Origin for therapeutic

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

Word Origin and History for therapeutic

therapeutic

adj.

pertaining to the healing of disease, 1640s, probably shortened from therapeutical (c.1600), from Modern Latin therapeuticus "curing, healing," from Greek therapeutikos, from therapeutes "one ministering," from therapeutein "to cure, treat," of unknown origin, related to therapon (genitive therapontos) "attendant." Therapeutic was used from 1540s as a noun meaning "the branch of medicine concerned with treatment of disease."

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Medicine definitions for therapeutic

therapeutic

[ thĕr′ə-pyōō′tĭk ]

adj.

Having or exhibiting healing powers.
Of or relating to therapeutics.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.