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rehabilitation
/ˌriːəˌbɪlɪˈteɪʃən/
restoration of health or normal life
The hospital offers rehabilitation programs for stroke patients.
The hospital provides programs to help stroke patients recover and regain normal function.
Medicine
formal
The process of helping someone recover from an illness, injury, or addiction to improve their physical, mental, or social well-being.
Physical rehabilitation includes exercises to restore mobility after surgery.
Physical rehabilitation involves exercises designed to help patients regain movement after surgery.
Often involves structured programs in medical or therapeutic settings.
formal
The restoration of someone's reputation or social standing after a period of difficulty or disgrace.
The community worked toward the rehabilitation of the wrongly accused man.
The community helped restore the wrongly accused man's reputation and social standing.
Used in legal or social contexts to describe efforts to reintegrate individuals into society.
formal
The process of reforming or improving a place, system, or organization.
Urban rehabilitation projects aim to revitalize neglected neighborhoods.
Urban rehabilitation projects are designed to improve and restore neglected neighborhoods.
Commonly used in urban planning and social policy discussions.
Collocations
physical rehabilitationmedical treatment to restore physical functionrehabilitation centera facility providing recovery programsrehabilitation processthe steps taken to recover or improve
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Formal vs. Informal Use
Use 'rehabilitation' in formal contexts, such as medical or legal discussions. In informal contexts, 'rehab' is acceptable.
Gold Rule
Context Matters
The meaning of 'rehabilitation' varies by context. Ensure you use the correct definition based on the field (medicine, law, or social policy).
Word Origin
From Latin 'rehabilitare' (to restore), from 'habilis' (fit, suitable). First recorded in English in the early 17th century.
Usage Notes
The term is commonly used in medical, legal, and social contexts. In informal contexts, 'rehab' is often used as a shortened form.
Word Breakdown
re-
again
prefix-habil
able, fit
root-itation
the process of
suffixEnglish Dictionary