rehabilitation
noun
re·ha·bil·i·ta·tion
ˌrē-ə-ˌbi-lə-ˈtā-shən 
ˌrē-hə-
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
Shira SpringerThe handsome barn-style building is used as a wildlife rehabilitation center, so you'll see mending hawks, eagles, or owls perching.—Lora J. Finnegan
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
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
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
Gilbert was set to be moved out of the ICU to the rehabilitation floor when things took a turn for the worse.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2026
Additionally, the technology could be used in healthcare devices for monitoring movement or assisting in rehabilitation.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 3 Apr. 2026
In her memoir, Minnelli — one of the few entertainers to achieve EGOT status, winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony — addresses her long history of health struggles, including five stints in rehabilitation and her recovery from brain inflammation in 2000.
—Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
According to the lawsuit, Boston’s planning department issued a request for proposals in September 2024 for the site that stated the city may commit up to $8 million towards the rehabilitation or demolition of Pier 5.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rehabilitation
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.
Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2026
Additionally, the technology could be used in healthcare devices for monitoring movement or assisting in rehabilitation.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 3 Apr. 2026
In her memoir, Minnelli — one of the few entertainers to achieve EGOT status, winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony — addresses her long history of health struggles, including five stints in rehabilitation and her recovery from brain inflammation in 2000.
—Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
According to the lawsuit, Boston’s planning department issued a request for proposals in September 2024 for the site that stated the city may commit up to $8 million towards the rehabilitation or demolition of Pier 5.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rehabilitation
Cite this Entry
“Rehabilitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rehabilitation. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
