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

The court ruled she lacked the maturity to make her own medical decisions.

From The Daily Beast

Doubling down on Schedule I is, at best, a deranged way to push Americans away from “medical,” and toward recreational, use.

From The Daily Beast

But medical experts say being able to take advantage of American health care almost certainly prolonged his life.

From The Daily Beast

But the medical examiner reported that Brinsley had eaten nothing at all.

From The Daily Beast

Houston has the largest medical center in the world, and the largest export port in the entire country.

From The Daily Beast

William Woodville died; a distinguished English physician and medical writer.

From Project Gutenberg

William Hewson died; an eminent English anatomist, and medical author.

From Project Gutenberg

Christopher Bennet died; a distinguished London physician, and writer on medical subjects.

From Project Gutenberg

He wrote on law, medical jurisprudence and political economy, and translated Justinian and Broussais.

From Project Gutenberg

William P. Dewees, a distinguished medical writer, died at Philadelphia.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• medicinal
• therapeutic