therapy
Americannoun
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the treatment of disease or disorders, as by some remedial, rehabilitating, or curative process.
speech therapy.
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a curative power or quality.
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any act, hobby, task, program, etc., that relieves tension.
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of therapy
1840–50; < New Latin therapīa < Greek therapeía healing (akin to therápōn attendant)
Explanation
Therapy is the act of caring for someone, or the method of caring. If you have a rare disease, your doctor's therapy will hopefully cure you. Therapy comes from the Greek θεραπεία, for "healing." If someone tells you she's "in therapy," she's probably talking about a psychological kind of healing. But if she's getting physical therapy, then she's getting help with a bone or muscle problem. If someone suggests an experimental therapy, that's a mode of treatment that's new. Sometimes if something non-medical makes you feel better, we call it a kind of therapy. You might like chocolate therapy, for example.
Vocabulary lists containing therapy
"The Moustache" and "Who We Really Are"
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"Yummy" by G. Neri
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Excerpt from "Bad Boy"
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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.
The company is leaning toward a trial that compares patients receiving the therapy against a control group receiving standard treatments and a “sham” procedure to rule out any placebo effect.
From Barron's • Jun. 17, 2026
Researchers say the results may help healthcare providers, insurers and policymakers identify patients who could benefit from additional support to remain on GLP-1 therapy over time, Sontha said.
From Science Daily • Jun. 16, 2026
The helpline doesn’t offer therapy, but instead directs callers to professionals who are trained in treating harmful sexual behaviors.
From Slate • Jun. 15, 2026
“If you like, I can refer you to physical therapy as well.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 14, 2026
It’s why Mom insists I go to therapy.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
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.
