topical
Americanadjective
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relating to or dealing with matters of current or local interest.
a topical reference.
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relating to the subject of a discourse, composition, or the like.
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relating to or in a particular place; local.
The themes chosen for World Meteorological Day reflect topical weather, climate, or water-related issues.
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Medicine/Medical. of, relating to, or applied externally to a particular part of the body; local.
a topical anesthetic.
noun
adjective
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of, relating to, or constituting current affairs
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relating to a particular place; local
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of or relating to a topic or topics
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(of a drug, ointment, etc) for application to the body surface; local
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of topical
First recorded in 1580–90; from Greek topik(ós) “local, pertaining to commonplaces” ( see topo-, -ic) + -al 1
Explanation
When some information or news is current and of immediate interest, we say it is topical. This might be a news story or a bit of gossip, or just a subject that is of current importance. If it's "now," it's topical. There are several meanings of the word topical, but one clue can help you remember them all: that inside word "top." You often hear newscasters refer to the "top" stories of the day—they’re current, and that makes them topical. That same little word "top" can help you remember the medical meaning of topical: pertaining to the surface of the skin. A cream applied to the "top" of your skin is a topical medication. Remember that clue, and you'll be "tops" too.
Vocabulary lists containing topical
Burning Blue
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Week 1 Spelling
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The Wind in the Willows
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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.
Carr has challenged the status of “The View,” arguing that the topical chat show is not a bona fide news program and, thus, should not be entitled to the exemption.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026
The restored visual behaviors appeared after injection into the eye and also following topical administration as eye drops.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 28, 2026
TSW can sometimes appear while still using a topical steroid, but becomes much worse on stopping and more severe than the original condition.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026
The FDA’s career scientists recommended against greenlighting any of the peptides on the list, which come in formulations including injections, nasal sprays and topical creams.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
They're all lined up so neatly on the bathroom counter: the vacuum-packed dressings coated with topical pain reliever, the latex-free surgical tape, the hydrogen peroxide, the prescription-grade antibiotic gel.
From "Burning Blue" by Paul Griffin
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.
