Palliative

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈpalɪətɪv/

Origin

From New Latin *palliativus, from Medieval Latin palliare ("to cloak"), from Latin pallium ("a cloak").

Full definition of palliative

Adjective

1. Serving to palliate; serving to extenuate or mitigate.
2. (medicine) Minimising the progression of a disease and relieving undesirable symptoms for as long as possible, rather than attempting to cure the (usually incurable) disease.

Synonyms

• (medicine)

Coordinate terms

• (medicine) analgesic, lenitive

Related terms

• palliate
• palliation

Noun

1. (medicine) Something that palliates, particularly a palliative medicine.The radiation and chemotherapy were only palliatives.