Definition of "palliative" in English

adjective

1. Serving to palliate; serving to extenuate or mitigate.

2. (medicine) Minimising the progression of a disease and relieving undesirable symptoms for as long as possible, rather than attempting to cure the (usually incurable) disease.

noun

1. (medicine) Something that palliates, particularly a palliative medicine.

   • The radiation and chemotherapy were only palliatives.