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Synonyms

therapy

American  
[ther-uh-pee] / ˈθɛr ə pi /

noun

plural

therapies

  1. the treatment of disease or disorders, as by some remedial, rehabilitating, or curative process.

    speech therapy.

  2. a curative power or quality.

  3. psychotherapy.

  4. any act, hobby, task, program, etc., that relieves tension.

therapy British  
/ ˈθɛrəpɪ /

noun

    1. the treatment of physical, mental, or social disorders or disease

    2. ( in combination )

      physiotherapy

      electrotherapy
"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
therapy Cultural  

  1. Treatment intended to cure or alleviate an illness or injury, whether physical or mental.

Other Word Forms

  • self-therapy noun

Etymology

Origin of therapy

1840–50; < New Latin therapīa < Greek therapeía healing (akin to therápōn attendant)

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.

Even today, there is still no vaccine or specific antiviral therapy available.

From Science Daily • Apr. 6, 2026

As part of the deal, Neurocrine is obtaining its first therapy for metabolic disorders — one that is on track to bring in $450 million in revenue this year.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

He said he was working to find a new “baseline” through a regime of medication, therapy, exercise and clean living.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

The man needs a chauffeur more than group therapy.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

Known today as electroconvulsive therapy, this involved sending electrical current through the brain and inducing seizures.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

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.