physical therapist
noun
plural physical therapists
: a person licensed to practice physical therapy : a health care professional who provides therapy to preserve, enhance, or restore movement and physical function that are impaired or threatened by disease, injury, or disability
… a physical therapist can show you exercises to maintain strength and movement in the affected area and may also use transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation …—
Self Healing
Self HealingWhile activity may worsen pain, activity directed by physical therapists, which may be done in therapy sessions and sometimes at home, provides some relief.—Schenectady (New York) Daily Gazette
—abbreviation PT
Schenectady (New York) Daily Gazettecalled also physiotherapist
Examples of physical therapist in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the clinical setting, Busbee said, physical therapists use different size electrodes for various parts of the body, attached to a machine that transmits an electrical current to the electrodes.
—
Diana Anos,
CNN Money,
3 July 2026
Moderate evidence shows that chiropractic care has effects similar to that of physical therapists, another group not on the list.
—
David S. Shapiro,
STAT,
30 June 2026
Sacramento's fire department is taking this idea from the city of Denver, which has its own in-house physical therapist.
—
Steve Large,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
Roughly 41% of all major health and wellness influencers on social media are credentialed healthcare professionals (including doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and dermatologists), according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center.
—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
20 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for physical therapist
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.
Diana Anos,
CNN Money,
3 July 2026
Moderate evidence shows that chiropractic care has effects similar to that of physical therapists, another group not on the list.
—
David S. Shapiro,
STAT,
30 June 2026
Sacramento's fire department is taking this idea from the city of Denver, which has its own in-house physical therapist.
—
Steve Large,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
Roughly 41% of all major health and wellness influencers on social media are credentialed healthcare professionals (including doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and dermatologists), according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center.
—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
20 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for physical therapist
Cite this Entry
“Physical therapist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/physical%20therapist. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
