rehabilitate

verb

re·​ha·​bil·​i·​tate ˌrē-ə-ˈbi-lə-ˌtāt How to pronounce rehabilitate (audio) ˌrē-hə- How to pronounce rehabilitate (audio)
rehabilitated; rehabilitating

transitive verb

1
a
: to restore to a former capacity : reinstate
b
: to restore to good repute : reestablish the good name of
2
a
: to restore to a former state (as of efficiency, good management, or solvency)
rehabilitate slum areas
b
: to restore or bring to a condition of health or useful and constructive activity
rehabilitative adjective

Examples of rehabilitate in a Sentence

The clinic rehabilitates drug addicts. He's still rehabilitating the knee he injured last summer. They try to rehabilitate horses that have suffered injuries. The program is intended to rehabilitate criminals. The country has rehabilitated its image since the war. The city plans to rehabilitate its slum areas.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Ma was a most prominent victim of Beijing’s tech crackdown from several years ago, and his attendance at the recent summit marked a clear signal that China’s most famous entrepreneur had been rehabilitated after four years in the political wilderness. London Business School, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025 Smith's doctor said the cannibal killer has been rehabilitated and is taking medications to help with psychosis and voices in his head, the outlet reported. Landon Mion, Fox News, 23 Feb. 2025 The venture is a mix of new construction and renovation, with DJK rehabilitating Kroehler mansion into two of the total 41 units planned and the rest going up around the historical structure. Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2025 Four years in opposition have helped Trump rehabilitate his image. Zachary Basu, Axios, 31 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rehabilitate

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin rehabilitatus, past participle of rehabilitare, from Latin re- + Late Latin habilitare to habilitate

First Known Use

circa 1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of rehabilitate was circa 1581

Browse Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

“Rehabilitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rehabilitate. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

rehabilitate

verb
re·​ha·​bil·​i·​tate ˌrē-(h)ə-ˈbil-ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce rehabilitate (audio)
rehabilitated; rehabilitating
1
: to restore to a former status or reputation
2
a
: to restore to a state of efficiency, good management, or repair
rehabilitate slum areas
b
: to restore to a condition of health or useful and constructive activity
rehabilitate criminals
rehabilitation noun

Medical Definition

rehabilitate

transitive verb
re·​ha·​bil·​i·​tate ˌrē-(h)ə-ˈbil-ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce rehabilitate (audio)
rehabilitated; rehabilitating
: to restore or bring to a condition of health or useful and constructive activity
rehabilitate patients with hip fractures

Legal Definition

rehabilitate

transitive verb
re·​ha·​bil·​i·​tate ˌrē-ə-ˈbi-lə-ˌtāt, ˌrē-hə- How to pronounce rehabilitate (audio)
rehabilitated; rehabilitating
1
: to restore to a former capacity
specifically : to restore credibility to (a witness or testimony)
the State simply brought out all of the prior statements to qualify or explain the inconsistency and to rehabilitate the witness People v. Page, 550 N.E.2d 248 (1990)
compare impeach

Note: A witness whose trial testimony is inconsistent with his or her pretrial usually sworn statements is considered impeached. Such a witness may be rehabilitated usually on redirect examination. There are various state and federal evidentiary rules governing what evidence (as character evidence) is admissible to rehabilitate a witness.

2
a
: to restore to a former state (as of good repair or solvency)
if the debtor wishes to liquidate rather than reorganize or rehabilitate the farming operationJ. H. Williamson
b
: to restore (as a convicted criminal defendant) to a useful and constructive place in society through therapy, job training, and other counseling
rehabilitation noun

More from Merriam-Webster on rehabilitate

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