# therapeutic

/ˌθɛɹəpˈjutɪk/ (US) · /θˌɛɹəpjˈuːtɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/therapeutic
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. healing or relaxing

adjective · CEFR B2

having a good effect on your body or mind, helping you to feel relaxed or healthy.

For teachers: producing a beneficial effect on the body or mind; conducive to health or restoration.

- I find gardening very therapeutic after a long and stressful day at work.
- Many patients find that creative activities like painting have a therapeutic effect on their mental health during long hospital stays.

### 2. medical treatment

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

relating to the medical treatment of a disease or condition.

For teachers: relating to the remedial treatment of disease or bodily disorder.

- The doctor explained the therapeutic benefits of the new medication.
- The clinical trial was designed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of the drug compared to existing standard treatments.

### 3. a healing agent

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

a drug or treatment that helps to cure a disease.

For teachers: a therapeutic agent, such as a drug or a specific medical treatment.

- Scientists are developing new therapeutics to fight rare blood diseases.
- The pharmaceutical company invested heavily in the development of digital therapeutics to supplement traditional pharmacological interventions.

## Examples

- Gardening is a very therapeutic hobby for many people.
- The doctor suggested that swimming might be therapeutic for his recovering back muscles.
- While the primary goal of the medication is physiological, many patients find the ritual of the daily walk to the clinic equally therapeutic for their emotional state.

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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.