medical

[ med-i-kuhl ]

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.

noun

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

medical

/ 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

noun

1. informal.
   a medical examination

Derived Forms

• ˈmedically, adverb

Other Words From

• medi·cal·ly adverb
• anti·medi·cal adjective
• anti·medi·cal·ly adverb
• non·medi·cal adjective
• non·medi·cal·ly adverb
• pseudo·medi·cal adjective
• pseudo·medi·cal·ly adverb
• quasi-medi·cal adjective
• quasi-medi·cal·ly adverb
• un·medi·cal adjective
• un·medi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of medical¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of medical¹

C17: from Medieval Latin medicālis, from Latin medicus physician, surgeon, from medērī to heal

Example Sentences

That medical exception is even stricter than usual for state laws in applying only to threats to life.

From Slate

They and the physician plaintiffs seek to establish that Idaho’s law allows an abortion whenever a patient has a physical medical condition or complication that makes it unsafe to continue a pregnancy, has a condition exacerbated by pregnancy that can’t otherwise be easily treated, or is told about a fetal condition that is likely to be fatal after birth.

From Slate

Queens of the Stone Age, which canceled the remainder of their 2024 shows in August because of singer Josh Homme’s medical issues, will only play the Dodger Stadium stop, where they will be joined by JPEGMAFIA.

From Los Angeles Times

That kind of research can lead, down the line, to important medical interventions.

From Slate

Police and the army are still at the scene waiting to detain those who are not in need of medical care after resurfacing.

From BBC

Related Words

• medicinal
• therapeutic