adjective

palliative

/ˈpæliətɪv/ · say it: PAL·ee·uh·tiv

relieving symptoms without curing the disease

In Medicine & Health

In more detail

1. (adjective) designed to ease pain or symptoms without curing the underlying problem

2. (noun) a treatment or measure that eases suffering without curing the disease

Examples

1. Palliative care helps patients with terminal illnesses feel more comfortable.
2. The medicine was only a palliative, not a cure for her condition.

How to use palliative

Palliative is used primarily in medical contexts to describe interventions that reduce suffering or symptoms without addressing the root cause of a disease, particularly in terminal or chronic illness care. It carries a neutral or even positive tone when discussing compassionate end-of-life care. The term can also apply more broadly to any temporary measure that eases a problem without solving it.

Common phrases

palliative care
palliative treatment
palliative measure
palliative approach
palliative effects

Synonyms

alleviative · mitigating · soothing · symptomatic · temporary relief

Opposites

curative · therapeutic · healing

Word family

palliate (verb) · palliation (noun) · palliatively (adverb)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse palliative with 'pejorative' or assume it means a treatment is inferior; actually, palliative care is highly valued in medicine as a compassionate approach focused on quality of life rather than cure.

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