surgical

[ sur-ji-kuhl ]

adjective

1. pertaining to or involving surgery or surgeons.
2. used in surgery.
3. characterized by extreme precision or incisiveness:

   a surgical air strike against enemy targets.

surgical

/ ˈsɜːdʒɪkəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, involving, or used in surgery
2. (of an action) performed with extreme precision

   a surgical air attack on the missile complex

Derived Forms

• ˈsurgically, adverb

Other Words From

• surgi·cal·ly adverb
• non·surgi·cal adjective
• non·surgi·cal·ly adverb
• post·surgi·cal adjective
• pre·surgi·cal adjective
• pro·surgi·cal adjective
• un·surgi·cal adjective
• un·surgi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of surgical¹

First recorded in 1760–70; surg(eon) + -ical

Example Sentences

"I would expect them to be surgical in nature," says Brandon Daniels, CEO at Exiger, a risk and compliance firm specializing in areas such as supply chains.

From Salon

"I was plunged into surgical menopause," she says.

From BBC

For instance, a surgical operation can widen the opening at the base of the skull to reduce pressure on the brain and relieve certain symptoms in some Chiari type-1 patients.

From Science Daily

Before getting his surgical procedures, he said, “I was scared to date. I was scared to wear clothes that I liked. I was scared to go to the beach.”

From Los Angeles Times

A total hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the womb and cervix.

From BBC