homeopathic

adjective

ho·​meo·​path·​ic ˌhō-mē-ə-ˈpa-thik 

1

: of or relating to homeopathy or homeopathic medicine

homeopathic remedies

Another homeopathic dictum, the "law of infinitesimals", states that the smaller the dose, the more powerful the effect.

—Leon Jaroff

2

: of a diluted or insipid nature

He was probably a homeopathic abolitionist …

—William Allen White

Charley, please give a world of my respect & esteem to Miss Ida, & a homeopathic dose of my love.

—Mark Twain

homeopathically

ˌhō-mē-ə-ˈpa-thi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

a homeopathically prepared treatment

Examples of homeopathic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Based in Secaucus, N.J., The Vitamin Shoppe sells nutritional solutions, including vitamins, minerals, specialty supplements, herbs, sports nutrition, homeopathic remedies, green living products, and natural beauty aids through proprietary brands and approximately 700 national brands. —David Moin, WWD, 4 Nov. 2024

The pair have visited India on numerous occasions over the years and previously paid a visit to the wellness center, which offers Ayurvedic and homeopathic treatments, yoga and meditation sessions. —Max Foster, CNN, 30 Oct. 2024

Some people find that homeopathic treatments, motion sickness bands, and other treatments can help with symptoms. —Kelly Burch, Verywell Health, 9 Oct. 2024

Some dilutions are so extreme that not a single molecule of the starting substance is present in homeopathic products. —Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 19 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

homeo- + -pathic, after German homöopathisch

Note: The German adjective was introduced by Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843), the founder of homeopathy, probably first in the essay "Fingerzeige auf den homöopathischen Gebrauch der Arzeien in der bisherigen Praxis," Journal der practischen Arzneykunde und Wundarzneykunst, edited by C. W. Hufeland, Band 26, 2. Theil (1807), pp. 5-43. Upon introducing the word, Hahnemann defines it in a footnote: "Homöopathisch ist, was ein ὅμοιον πάθος, ein ähnliches Leiden zu erzeugen Tendenz hat" ("Homeopathic is that which tends to produce a hómoion páthos, a similar suffering") (p. 8). See also allopathic.

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing homeopathic

• homeopathic medicine

Medical Definition

homeopathic

adjective

ho·​meo·​path·​ic

variants or British homoeopathic

ˌhō-mē-ə-ˈpath-ik 

: of or relating to homeopathy or homeopathic medicine

homeopathic methods

Homeopathic remedies are derived from plants (chamomile, poison ivy, rue), minerals (sulfur, iron, mercury), or animals (squid ink, bee venom) prepared as highly dilute solutions.

—Andrew Weil, Self Healing

homeopathically adverb

or British homoeopathically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

homeopathically diluted solutions