chemotherapy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Medical, formal, occasionally used in general news/awareness contexts.
Quick answer
What does “chemotherapy” mean?
Medical treatment of disease using chemical substances, specifically to kill rapidly dividing cells like cancer cells.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Medical treatment of disease using chemical substances, specifically to kill rapidly dividing cells like cancer cells.
Any treatment of disease using chemical drugs, but overwhelmingly associated with cancer treatment. Can sometimes be used in broader contexts like antimicrobial chemotherapy for infections.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling. Minor potential differences in associated terms (e.g., 'oncology ward' vs. 'cancer center').
Connotations
Identical; universally associated with cancer treatment and its arduous nature.
Frequency
Equally common and understood in both varieties due to the global nature of medical terminology.
Grammar
How to Use “chemotherapy” in a Sentence
undergo/take/have/receive chemotherapy (for [condition])chemotherapy (is used/ administered) to treat [condition][Patient] is on chemotherapyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chemotherapy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The team decided to chemotherapise the tumour aggressively.
- She was chemotherapised as an outpatient.
American English
- The oncologist recommended chemotherapy for the patient. (Note: 'chemotherapize' is extremely rare; 'treat with chemotherapy' is standard.)
adverb
British English
- The tumour was treated chemotherapeutically. (Technical)
- The agent acts chemotherapeutically. (Technical)
American English
- The medicine works chemotherapeutically. (Technical/rare)
- N/A in everyday use.
adjective
British English
- The chemotherapy regimen was particularly gruelling.
- She experienced severe chemotherapy-related fatigue.
American English
- The chemotherapy drugs were administered intravenously.
- He is in a chemotherapy trial.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in pharmaceutical/healthcare investment contexts.
Academic
Common in medical, biological, and public health research.
Everyday
Common in discussions of health, illness, and cancer experiences.
Technical
Core term in oncology; specified by type (e.g., neoadjuvant, combination chemotherapy).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chemotherapy”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chemotherapy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chemotherapy”
- Using 'chemotherapy' to refer to a single pill (it's a regimen).
- Misspelling as 'chemotheraphy'.
- Using as a verb (*'They will chemotherapy her') instead of 'administer chemotherapy to'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'chemo' is a very common, informal synonym used primarily by patients, caregivers, and in general discourse. In formal medical writing, 'chemotherapy' is preferred.
While overwhelmingly associated with cancer, the term can technically refer to any drug treatment for disease (e.g., antibiotics for infection). However, without context, it is assumed to mean cancer treatment.
Chemotherapy uses chemical drugs that travel throughout the body. Radiotherapy uses targeted high-energy radiation (like X-rays) to treat a specific area.
No, it is a noun. While rare technical forms like 'chemotherapise' exist, standard usage is 'treat with chemotherapy', 'administer chemotherapy', or 'undergo chemotherapy'.
Medical treatment of disease using chemical substances, specifically to kill rapidly dividing cells like cancer cells.
Chemotherapy is usually medical, formal, occasionally used in general news/awareness contexts. in register.
Chemotherapy: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkiːməʊˈθerəpi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkiːmoʊˈθerəpi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Chemo brain (cognitive fog post-treatment)”
- “The chemo suite (treatment area)”
- “A chemo cocktail (combination of drugs)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CHEMical THERAPY for the body. 'Chemo' sounds like 'key-mow', which you might do to your hair before it falls out from the treatment (a dark mnemonic).
Conceptual Metaphor
WAR (battle against cancer, chemo as a weapon/army), PURIFICATION (poisoning the bad to save the good), JOURNEY (course/treatment pathway).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common primary association of the word 'chemotherapy'?