acupuncture
noun
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In Latin, acus means "needle", and the English word acupuncture was coined way back in the 17th century to describe a technique the Chinese had already been using for 2,000 years. An acupuncturist may insert many extremely fine needles at a time; the treatment is usually uncomfortable but not truly painful. In China today, even major surgery is often carried out using only acupuncture to kill the pain; it's also used for many other conditions, including insomnia, depression, smoking, and overweight. Acupuncture is based on ancient theories of bodily energy that few Western doctors have ever accepted; but even though attempts to explain its effects by Western science have been unsuccessful, it's now widely recognized by doctors as effective for pain reduction.
Examples of acupuncture in a Sentence
Andrew Paul Jul 17, Popular Science, 17 July 2025
In short: yes, acupuncture may help relieve some symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, says Dr. Maria Colon-Gonzalez, a physician at Salud Revisited and acupuncture practitioner.
—Elizabeth Yuko, Flow Space, 16 July 2025
After undergoing treatment that included medication, acupuncture, and ten weeks of crate rest, Monty didn't regain mobility.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
In a 2024 review, researchers found that acupuncture reduced symptoms like congestion and nose itch.4
Probiotics are microorganisms—usually bacteria—that help balance the gut microbiome, the ecosystem of microorganisms that live in your intestines.
—Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 8 July 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Acupuncture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acupuncture. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
acupuncture
noun
Latin acus "needle" and English puncture
Medical Definition
acupuncture
noun
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