Rehabilitate

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ɹiː(h)əˈbɪlɪteɪt/

Origin

From the participle stem of Late Latin rehabilitare, from Latin re- + habilitāre.

Full definition of rehabilitate

Verb

1. (transitive) To restore (someone) to their former state, reputation, possessions, status etc. from 16th c.
2. (transitive) To vindicate; to restore the reputation or image of (a person, concept etc.). from 18th c.
3. (transitive) To return (something) to its original condition. from 19th c.
4. (transitive, North America) To restore or repair (a vehicle, building); to make habitable or usable again. from 19th c.
5. (transitive) To restore to (a criminal etc.) the necessary training and education to allow for a successful reintegration into society; to retrain. from 19th c.
6. (transitive) To return (someone) to good health after illness, addiction etc. from 19th c.
7. (intransitive) To go through such a process; to recover. from 20th c.

Derived terms

• rehab
• rehabilitation
• rehabilitative