medicinal
Americanadjective
-
of, relating to, or having the properties of a medicine; curative; remedial.
medicinal properties; medicinal substances.
-
unpalatable; disagreeable.
a medicinal taste.
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
- medicinally adverb
- nonmedicinal adjective
- nonmedicinally adverb
- semimedicinal adjective
- unmedicinal adjective
- unmedicinally adverb
Etymology
Origin of medicinal
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English word from Latin word medicīnālis. See medicine, -al 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Lead author Dr. Jack Wilson from the University of Sydney's Matilda Centre said the results raise serious questions about approving medicinal cannabis for conditions like anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
From Science Daily • Mar. 20, 2026
Paul Stamets and Jeff Chilton began as friends, their collaboration leading to the rise of medicinal mushroom supplements.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026
Wellness influencers and regular people alike started adopting traditional Chinese medicinal practices.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026
Another problem, he adds, is that many people in rural India still rely on faith healers or local medicinal practices and go to hospitals only when their symptoms worsen, which can be lethal.
From BBC • Feb. 1, 2026
That he often smelled vaguely of chemicals—that in fact the building as a whole often had a medicinal odor—bothered no one.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
