English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun B1 Intermediate Very common

treatment

TREET-muhnt
Quiz me More like this

Treatment (noun) means Medical care given for an illness or injury. Example: “The doctor said the treatment would take about six weeks to work.”

noun
1
Medical care given for an illness or injury.
"The doctor said the treatment would take about six weeks to work."
"He is receiving treatment at the hospital for a serious chest infection."
"Cancer survivors who got radiation treatments as children have nearly twice the risk of developing diabetes as adults."
"The change is due largely to the increased availability of antiretroviral treatment."
"She underwent treatment for a torn ligament."
"A treatment or cure is applied after a medical problem has already started."
2
The way someone or something is dealt with or handled.
"Customers were pleased with the friendly treatment they received at the new shop."
"Animals deserve kind treatment, whether they live on a farm or in a home."
"The staff complained about their unfair treatment by management."

How to use treatment

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTreatment is either the medical care given for a condition, or, more generally, how someone or something is handled or dealt with.

Common pairings
medical treatment preferential treatment undergo treatment
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like treatment.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice

Word forms

Plural
treatments
Test yourself on “treatment” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The doctor said the _____ would take about six weeks to work.

Etymology

From "treat" + "-ment."

Related words

Frequently asked questions

What does “treatment” mean?
The word “treatment” means medical care given for an illness or injury. In plain terms, treatment is either the medical care given for a condition, or, more generally, how someone or something is handled or dealt with.
How do you pronounce “treatment”?
“Treatment” is pronounced TREET-muhnt (/ˈtɹiːtmənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “treatment” in a sentence?
Here is “treatment” used in a sentence: “She underwent treatment for a torn ligament.”
What part of speech is “treatment”?
“Treatment” is a noun.
Is “treatment” a common word?
“Treatment” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “treatment” have?
“Treatment” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: medical care given for an illness or injury.
What is the difference between treatment and cure?
A treatment is any medical care given to manage an illness or injury — it may ease symptoms, slow a disease, or aid recovery. A cure completely ends the disease. Every cure is a treatment, but many treatments only control a condition rather than eliminating it altogether.
What is the difference between treatment and therapy?
The words overlap and are often used interchangeably. Treatment is the broad term for any medical care, including drugs, surgery, and procedures. Therapy usually means treatment that doesn't involve surgery — such as physiotherapy, chemotherapy, or talking therapy — and is often given gradually over a period of time.
What are the types of medical treatment?
Broad categories include medication, surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, physical therapy and rehabilitation, and psychological or talking therapies. Treatments can also be described by their aim: curative (seeking to cure), preventive (stopping illness arising), or palliative (easing symptoms and improving comfort without curing the underlying disease).
What is an example of treatment?
Taking antibiotics for an infection, having surgery to repair a broken bone, undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, or attending physiotherapy after an injury are all treatments. Even rest, fluids, and pain relief prescribed for a bad cold count as a form of treatment.

Featured in

People also searched