Rehabilitation: meaning, definitions and examples

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rehabilitation

 

[ ˌriːhəˌbɪlɪˈteɪʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

medical treatment

The process of helping a person who has suffered an illness or injury to recover and return to normal life. Rehabilitation may involve physical therapy, occupational therapy, and counseling.

Synonyms

recovery, restoration, therapy.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
rehabilitation

This seems to be a duplicate, already addressed above.

  • Already addressed above
recovery

Typically describes the process of getting better after an illness, injury, or other setback. It is often used when referring to health but can be applied to financial or emotional situations as well.

  • Her recovery from the flu took about two weeks
  • The company showed signs of recovery after the economic crisis
restoration

Generally used when talking about bringing something back to its original condition, such as a building, a relationship, or a natural environment. It can also refer to the return of something that was lost.

  • The restoration of the old church took five years
  • After years of neglect, they worked on the restoration of the neglected park
therapy

Used when referring to treatments meant to heal or relieve a physical or mental condition. This could include psychological counseling, physical therapy, or other medical treatments.

  • She goes to therapy every week to cope with her anxiety
  • Physical therapy helped him regain strength in his injured shoulder

Examples of usage

  • After his accident, he underwent months of rehabilitation to learn how to walk again.
  • She is currently in rehabilitation following her knee surgery.
Context #2 | Noun

criminal justice

The process of restoring a convicted criminal to a useful and constructive place in society through training and therapy.

Synonyms

reformation, rehab, reintegration.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
rehabilitation

Used primarily in the context of medical, mental health, and addiction recovery. It implies a process of regaining skills or health after an illness, injury, or addiction.

  • After the surgery, he underwent rehabilitation to regain his strength.
  • The drug rehabilitation center helped her get clean.
reformation

Often used in a social, legal, or religious context to describe significant changes or improvements to systems, behavior, or policies. It has a broader scope compared to other words.

  • The country's legal reformation was essential for reducing corruption.
  • The Reformation movement in the 16th century significantly changed the Christian Church.
reintegration

Used to describe the process of helping someone rejoin or become part of a community or group after being away or excluded. Commonly used in contexts involving ex-offenders, soldiers, or displaced people.

  • The program focuses on the reintegration of former prisoners into society.
  • After years abroad, the reintegration into her home country was challenging.
rehab

An informal and abbreviated form of 'rehabilitation,' mainly used in conversational or casual contexts, often related to addiction recovery.

  • He checked into rehab to deal with his alcohol addiction.
  • She had to go to rehab after her injury.

Examples of usage

  • The prison offers programs for rehabilitation to help inmates reintegrate into society upon release.
  • The judge emphasized the importance of rehabilitation in the sentencing of the young offender.

Translations

Translations of the word "rehabilitation" in other languages:

🇵🇹 reabilitação

🇮🇳 पुनर्वास

🇩🇪 Rehabilitation

🇮🇩 rehabilitasi

🇺🇦 реабілітація

🇵🇱 rehabilitacja

🇯🇵 リハビリテーション

🇫🇷 réhabilitation

🇪🇸 rehabilitación

🇹🇷 rehabilitasyon

🇰🇷 재활

🇸🇦 إعادة التأهيل

🇨🇿 rehabilitace

🇸🇰 rehabilitácia

🇨🇳 康复

🇸🇮 rehabilitacija

🇮🇸 endurvinnsla

🇰🇿 реабилитация

🇬🇪 რეაბილიტაცია

🇦🇿 reabilitasiya

🇲🇽 rehabilitación

Etymology

The word 'rehabilitation' originates from the Latin word 'rehabilitare', which means 'to restore to a former capacity'. The concept of rehabilitation has evolved over the years, initially focusing on physical recovery but expanding to include mental health, substance abuse, and criminal justice. The emphasis on rehabilitation as a holistic approach to recovery has gained importance in various fields of medicine and social services.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #4,378, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.