therapeutic
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
-
of or relating to the treatment of disease; curative
-
serving or performed to maintain health
therapeutic abortion
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of therapeutic
1535–45; < New Latin therapeuticus < Greek therapeutikós, equivalent to therapeú ( ein ) to attend, treat medically (akin to therápōn attendant) + -tikos -tic
Explanation
Whether you’re talking about a therapeutic drug or a therapeutic exercise plan, something that is therapeutic helps to heal or to restore health. The adjective therapeutic can be traced all the way back to the Greek word therapeutikos (from therapeuein, meaning “to attend” or “to treat”). Although the word relates to healing or soothing, therapeutic isn’t reserved only for drugs or medical treatments. You’ve probably heard particular activities referred to as therapeutic, which just means that doing that activity makes you feel rejuvenated. You might consider shopping for shoes, for example, to be a therapeutic activity — at least until the credit card bill arrives.
Vocabulary lists containing therapeutic
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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.
AbbVie’s “quarter was highlighted by robust performance from Skyrizi and Rinvoq as well as most of the company’s key drivers, including Botox Cosmetic, Botox Therapeutic, Ubrelvy, Vraylar, and Venclexta,” Guggenheim wrote.
From Barron's • May 11, 2026
In 2018, Ravetch's team engineered the antibody 2141-V11 with support from Rockefeller's Therapeutic Development Fund, founded by trustee Julian Robertson and continued by the Black Family Foundation.
From Science Daily • Mar. 16, 2026
Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center is a community where horses transform the bodies, minds and spirits of people with disabilities.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 26, 2024
Shetty: I’m reading a book called “A Therapeutic Journey” by Alain de Botton, who started the School of Life.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2024
All this was fully presented in my work on Therapeutic Sarcognomy, published in 1885, which was speedily sold.
From Buchanan's Journal of Man, September 1887 Volume 1, Number 8 by Buchanan, Joseph R. (Joseph Rodes)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
