rehabilitation

noun

re·​ha·​bil·​i·​ta·​tion ˌrē-ə-ˌbi-lə-ˈtā-shən 

ˌrē-hə-

plural rehabilitations

: the action, process, or result of rehabilitating or of being rehabilitated: such as

a

: restoration especially by therapeutic means to an improved condition of physical function

MCL injuries alone rarely necessitate surgery and heal with rest and rehabilitation.

—Shira Springer

The handsome barn-style building is used as a wildlife rehabilitation center, so you'll see mending hawks, eagles, or owls perching.

—Lora J. Finnegan

also : the process of restoring a person to a drug- or alcohol-free state

… the tabloid feeding frenzy surrounding his drug bust and ensuing rehabilitation for heroin addiction last year.

—Joyce Millman

b

: the process of restoring someone (such as a criminal) to a useful and constructive place in society

the rehabilitation of prisoners

a prison rehabilitation program

c

: the restoration of something damaged or deteriorated to a prior good condition

the rehabilitation of the neighborhood

the rehabilitation of a person's reputation

Synonyms

• comeback
• convalescence
• healing
• mending
• rally
• recovery
• recuperation
• rehab
• snapback

Examples of rehabilitation in a Sentence

his rehabilitation from the flu was brief, and he was up and working again within a few days

Recent Examples on the Web

The children's father is in a rehabilitation facility. —Stepheny Price, Fox News, 30 Oct. 2024

Intensive rehabilitation followed, first at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, to address cognitive and physical challenges, before returning to California for outpatient therapy. —David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024

This constant state of intense hunger, known as hyperphagia, could lead bears to food sources in human developments, according to the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center, a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organization. —John Leos, The Arizona Republic, 2 Nov. 2024

One of the most impactful initiatives was the establishment of a dedicated rehabilitation program for raptors during my time as Director of Land Animals and Vice President at Marine World/Africa USA. —Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing rehabilitation

• physical medicine and rehabilitation

Medical Definition

rehabilitation

noun

re·​ha·​bil·​i·​ta·​tion ˌrē-(h)ə-ˌbil-ə-ˈtā-shən 

often attributive

1

: the action or process of rehabilitating or of being rehabilitated: as

a

: the physical restoration of a sick or disabled person by therapeutic measures and reeducation to participation in the activities of a normal life within the limitations of the person's physical disability

rehabilitation after coronary occlusion

b

: the process of restoring an individual to a useful and constructive place in society especially through some form of vocational, correctional, or therapeutic retraining

2

: the result of rehabilitating : the state of being rehabilitated

rehabilitation of the patient