Meaning & use
homeopathy
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountablemedical
A system of alternative medicine that treats illness with extremely diluted substances that would cause similar symptoms in a healthy person.
Grammar: Uncountable: she studies homeopathy, not 'a homeopathy'.
Patterns
- treat something with homeopathy
- practice homeopathy
She tried homeopathy for her allergies before seeing a doctor.
Critics say homeopathy has no proven effect beyond a placebo.
The clinic offers acupuncture and homeopathy.
Common combinations
- practice homeopathy
- He trained for years to practice homeopathy.
- homeopathy remedy
- The shop sells a homeopathy remedy for colds.
- rely on homeopathy
- Doctors warn against relying on homeopathy for serious illness.
- homeopathy and acupuncture
- The center offers homeopathy and acupuncture.
- evidence for homeopathy
- Researchers found little evidence for homeopathy.
Synonyms and how they differ
- alternative medicine
- Alternative medicine is a wide term for many unproven treatments, while homeopathy is one specific system within it.
- naturopathy
- Naturopathy stresses natural therapies like diet and herbs in general, whereas homeopathy depends on tiny doses of diluted substances.
Opposites
Word family
- homeopath noun
- a person who practices homeopathy
- homeopathic adjective
- relating to homeopathy
- allopathy noun
- the term homeopaths use for ordinary medicine
Commonly confused: homeopathy or osteopathy? homeopathy or herbalism?
homeopathy vs osteopathy
Osteopathy is a hands-on treatment of bones and muscles; it is not based on diluted remedies.
homeopathy vs herbalism
Herbalism uses plant extracts at normal strength, while homeopathy dilutes substances extremely.
Practice
Which treatment is an example of homeopathy?
Choose one answer.
Homeopathy uses highly diluted substances matched to symptoms. A cast, an operation and drinking water are ordinary medical or common-sense care.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “homeopathy”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.