medical

American  

[med-i-kuhl] / ˈmɛd ɪ kəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the science or practice of medicine.

   medical history; medical treatment.

2. curative; medicinal; therapeutic.

   medical properties.

3. pertaining to or requiring treatment by other than surgical means.

4. pertaining to or giving evidence of the state of one's health.

   a medical discharge from the army; a medical examination.

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noun

1. something done or received in regard to the state of one's health, as a medical examination.

medical British  

/ ˈmɛdɪkəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the science of medicine or to the treatment of patients by drugs, etc, as opposed to surgery

2. a less common word for medicinal

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noun

1. informal a medical examination

Usage

What does medical mean? Medical describes something related to the science or practice of medicine, as in My doctor’s medical experience with cancer is extensive.Medical also describes something that provides a cure or therapy for an illness or disease, as in Garlic has medical properties that have been widely studied.Example: He has to receive medical treatment one way or another.

Other Word Forms

• antimedical adjective
• antimedically adverb
• medically adverb
• nonmedical adjective
• nonmedically adverb
• pseudomedical adjective
• pseudomedically adverb
• quasi-medical adjective
• quasi-medically adverb
• unmedical adjective
• unmedically adverb

Etymology

Origin of medical

1640–50; < Medieval Latin medicālis, equivalent to Latin medic ( us ) medical (adj.), physician (noun) (derivative of medērī to heal; -ic ) + -ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

Dr David Levy, a cancer specialist and former medical director, visited all nine gender clinics in England as part of his inquiry.

From BBC

I don’t mind medical tourism, but I was a bit irked this summer when he sent me to a hospital in Chicago.

From The Wall Street Journal

A report provided by Turkey's Council of Forensic Medicine said: "The individual had no known medical illnesses."

From BBC

But that is not a medical term, and it does not mean the virus itself has suddenly become more dangerous or harder to treat.

From BBC

The Danish drugmaker said Thursday that if approved, CagriSema would provide patients and healthcare professionals with an additional treatment option to address unmet medical needs in obesity and support long-term disease management.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• medicinal
• therapeutic