Standard Lemma guide

phototherapy

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The use of light to treat disorders of the skin, and certain mood disorders.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

the use of strong light to treat acne or hyperbilirubinemia of the newborn

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: radiotherapy, radiation therapy, radiation, actinotherapy, irradiation

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bheh2- Proto-Indo-European *bhéh2os Proto-Hellenic *pháwos Ancient Greek φᾰ́ος (phắos) Ancient Greek φῶς (phôs) Ancient Greek φωτο- (phōto-)der. English photo- Proto-Indo-European *treb-der.? Ancient Greek θερᾰ́πων (therắpōn) Ancient Greek -εύς (-eús) Ancient Greek -εύω (-eúō) Ancient Greek θεραπεύω (therapeúō) Proto-Indo-European *-h2 Proto-Indo-European *-éh2 Proto-Indo-European *-i-eh2 Proto-Hellenic *-íā Ancient Greek -ία (-ía) Ancient Greek θεραπεία (therapeía)bor. New Latin therapīabor. English therapy English phototherapy From photo- + therapy.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 光療 /光疗 (guāngliáo) — medical therapy using light
  • Czech: fototerapie — medical therapy using light
  • French: photothérapie — medical therapy using light
  • Greek: φωτοθεραπεία (fototherapeía) — medical therapy using light
  • Ido: fototerapio — medical therapy using light
  • Irish: fótaiteiripe — medical therapy using light
  • Japanese: 光線療法 (kōsen ryōhō) — medical therapy using light
  • Persian: نوردرمانی (nur-darmâni) — medical therapy using light
  • Polish: fototerapia — medical therapy using light
  • Polish: światłolecznictwo — medical therapy using light
  • Russian: фо̀тотерапи́я (fòtoterapíja) — medical therapy using light