chronotherapy
noun
chro·no·ther·a·py
ˌkrä-nō-ˈther-ə-pē 
ˌkrō-
1
: treatment of a sleep disorder (such as insomnia) by changing sleeping and waking times in an attempt to reset the patient's biological clock
2
or chronotherapeutics
: the administration of medication or treatment in coordination with the body's circadian rhythms to maximize effectiveness and minimize side effects
Examples of chronotherapy in a Sentence
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The growing understanding of circadian rhythms also could offer help through what's known as chronotherapy.
—
Lydia Denworth, Scientific American, 13 June 2023
San Raffaele Hospital first introduced triple chronotherapy in 1996.
—Linda Geddes, Smithsonian, 23 Jan. 2018
In another cancer trial, tailoring chemotherapy to these daily rhythms—a practice known as chronotherapy—made the same drugs more effective and reduced the frequency of toxic side effects.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 28 Aug. 2012
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Lydia Denworth, Scientific American, 13 June 2023
San Raffaele Hospital first introduced triple chronotherapy in 1996.
—Linda Geddes, Smithsonian, 23 Jan. 2018
In another cancer trial, tailoring chemotherapy to these daily rhythms—a practice known as chronotherapy—made the same drugs more effective and reduced the frequency of toxic side effects.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 28 Aug. 2012
Cite this Entry
“Chronotherapy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chronotherapy. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
chronotherapy
noun
chro·no·ther·a·py
ˌkrän-ə-ˈther-ə-pē, ˌkrō-nə-
plural chronotherapies
1
: treatment of a sleep disorder (as insomnia) by changing sleeping and waking times in an attempt to reset the patient's biological clock
A nondrug treatment called chronotherapy can be used to "re-set" the body clock.—Tara Parker-Pope, The Wall Street Journal
Tara Parker-Pope, The Wall Street Journal2
or chronotherapeutics
: the administration of medication or treatment in coordination with the body's circadian rhythms to maximize effectiveness and minimize side effects
Chronotherapy is the relatively new practice of timed treatment.—The Daily News of Los Angeles
The Daily News of Los AngelesLove words? Need even more definitions?
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