# chemotherapy

/ˌkimoʊˈθɛɹəpi/ (US) · /kˌiːməʊθˈɛɹəpi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/chemotherapy
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. cancer treatment

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a medical treatment using powerful drugs to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing.

For teachers: the use of cytotoxic drugs to destroy or inhibit the growth of malignant cells in the treatment of cancer.

- She felt very tired after her second round of chemotherapy at the hospital.
- The oncologist recommended a combination of surgery and chemotherapy to ensure that any remaining microscopic cancer cells were eradicated.

Usage: Often shortened to 'chemo' in informal conversation; usually functions as an uncountable noun but can be countable when referring to specific regimens.

### 2. general chemical treatment

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

any treatment for a disease that uses chemical substances.

For teachers: the treatment of disease by means of chemical substances that have a specific toxic effect upon the microorganisms or other causes of the disease.

- In its broadest sense, chemotherapy includes the use of antibiotics to fight infections.
- The historical development of chemotherapy began with the search for 'magic bullets' that could target specific pathogens without harming the host organism.

Usage: In modern contexts, this broader meaning is rare and almost exclusively found in academic or historical medical texts.

## Examples

- She starts chemotherapy next week.
- The doctor explained how chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells throughout the body.
- While chemotherapy effectively shrinks tumours, it often damages healthy tissue, leading to side effects like hair loss and fatigue.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.