therapist

noun

ther·​a·​pist ˈther-ə-pist How to pronounce therapist (audio)
1
: an individual specializing in the therapeutic medical treatment of impairment, injury, disease, or disorder
especially : a health care professional trained in methods of treatment and rehabilitation other than the use of drugs or surgery
These simple range-of-motion exercises are often prescribed by physical, occupational, or hand therapists for people with hand OA [=osteoarthritis]. Food & Fitness Advisor
To help the baby interact with his family, a speech therapist taught everyone—including Justin's twin brother, Jeffery—hand signals and games. Michele Blecher
2
: a practitioner of psychotherapy : a psychotherapist
Again, it is important for the therapist to recognize that regression is normative due to the extreme stress of separation and divorce.Nathan W. Turner

Examples of therapist in a Sentence

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.
Two therapists work in sync to create a continuous, enveloping rhythm that’s disorienting in the best way. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026 Interoceptive exposure is typically done in a therapist’s office. Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 11 Feb. 2026 Before this hearing, a dependency investigator obtains medical records and interviews caregivers, babysitters, relatives, therapists, the kids themselves, and, ideally, the parents. Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026 Each code takes a doctor, a respiratory therapist, a pharmacist, and at least four or five nurses. Diana Torres, New York Daily News, 9 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for therapist

Word History

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of therapist was in 1880

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Therapist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/therapist. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

therapist

noun
ther·​a·​pist ˈther-ə-pəst How to pronounce therapist (audio)
: a person who specializes in therapy
especially : a person trained in methods of treatment other than the use of drugs or surgery
a speech therapist

Medical Definition

therapist

noun
ther·​a·​pist ˈther-ə-pəst How to pronounce therapist (audio)
: a person specializing in therapy
especially : one trained in methods of treatment and rehabilitation other than the use of drugs or surgery

More from Merriam-Webster on therapist

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster