holistic

Meanings

1. 1adjectivebefore a noun

   Considering something as a whole, including how its parts interconnect, rather than treating parts separately.

   Grammar: Usually comes before the noun it describes: a holistic approach, not usually the approach is holistic in learner writing.

   Patterns

   • a holistic approach to something
   • take a holistic view of something
   • holistic assessment of someone/something

   The clinic uses a holistic approach that considers sleep, diet, stress, and family support.

   A holistic review of the project examined costs, staffing, timing, and public impact together.

   Teachers gave holistic feedback on communication, not only grammar mistakes.

2. 2adjectivebefore a nounmedical

   In health care, treating the whole person rather than only one symptom or organ.

   Grammar: Still usually before a noun, and it often implies physical, mental, and social factors together.

   Patterns

   • holistic medicine
   • holistic care
   • holistic treatment of someone

   Many patients ask whether holistic care can complement standard medical treatment.

   The nurse explained that holistic pain management includes mood, movement, and medication.

   The program offers holistic support for people recovering from injury.

Common combinations

holistic approach

A holistic approach helped the team see why sales and customer service were connected.

holistic view

Managers need a holistic view before cutting the training budget.

holistic assessment

The portfolio gave a holistic assessment of each student's progress.

holistic care

The hospice provides holistic care for patients and their families.

Synonyms and how they differ

integrated

Integrated emphasizes parts joined into one system; holistic additionally stresses attention to the whole person or situation.

comprehensive

Comprehensive means including all relevant areas; holistic suggests those areas are understood in relation to one another.

whole-person

Whole-person is narrower and common in health or education; holistic is broader across fields.

Opposites

Word family

holistically adverb

In a way that considers the whole situation.

holism noun

The idea that systems should be seen as wholes, not only as separate parts.

Commonly confused: holistic or wholistic?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “holistic”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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