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Synonyms

topical

American  
[top-i-kuhl] / ˈtɒp ɪ kəl /

adjective

  1. relating to or dealing with matters of current or local interest.

    a topical reference.

  2. relating to the subject of a discourse, composition, or the like.

  3. relating to or in a particular place; local.

    The themes chosen for World Meteorological Day reflect topical weather, climate, or water-related issues.

  4. Medicine/Medical. of, relating to, or applied externally to a particular part of the body; local.

    a topical anesthetic.

noun

  1. Philately. any of a collection of different stamps treating the same subject.

topical British  
/ ˈtɒpɪkəl, ˌtɒpɪˈkælɪtɪ /

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or constituting current affairs

  2. relating to a particular place; local

  3. of or relating to a topic or topics

  4. (of a drug, ointment, etc) for application to the body surface; local

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • topicality noun
  • topically adverb

Etymology

Origin of topical

First recorded in 1580–90; from Greek topik(ós) “local, pertaining to commonplaces” ( topo-, -ic ) + -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.

Saturday Night Live UK will follow a similar format, with each 75-minute episode featuring an opening monologue as well as topical sketches, live music and a satire of the week's news called Weekend Update.

From BBC

“It was such a funny, topical joke that touched on something everyone was thinking about, and at the same time, got a big laugh and was unifying,” O’Brien said.

From Los Angeles Times

Pelage is planning to start Phase 3 studies this year for PP405, a topical “regenerative medicine approach” to hair loss that targets hair follicles stuck in the resting phase.

From MarketWatch

Magazine and contributes lifestyle reporting and topical essays to The Wall Street Journal.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Berlinale traditionally has a reputation for topical, progressive programming, but so far this year's edition has seen several stars shy away from taking a stance on the big political issues of the day.

From Barron's

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.