pulmonary

American  

[puhl-muh-ner-ee, pool-] / ˈpʌl məˌnɛr i, ˈpʊl- /

adjective

1. of or relating to the lungs.

2. of the nature of a lung; lunglike.

3. affecting the lungs.

4. having lungs or lunglike organs.

5. pertaining to or affected with disease of the lungs.

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pulmonary British  

/ -mənrɪ, ˈpʊl-, ˈpʌlmənərɪ /

adjective

1. of, or relating to or affecting the lungs

2. having lungs or lunglike organs

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pulmonary Scientific  

/ pl′mə-nĕr′ē /

1. Relating to or involving the lungs.

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Other Word Forms

• interpulmonary
  adjective
• nonpulmonary
  adjective
• postpulmonary
  adjective
• subpulmonary
  adjective
• transpulmonary
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of pulmonary

1650–60; < Latin pulmōnārius of the lungs, equivalent to pulmōn- (stem of pulmō lung; akin to Greek pleúmōn, later pneúmōn lung; cf. pneuma) + -ārius -ary

Explanation

Pulmonary means of or relating to the lungs. A pulmonary specialist is a doctor who treats lung problems. Once you know that pulmonary means "relating to the lungs," you know pretty much all there is to know. It will give you a lot more insight into whatever doctor's visits are coming up, because you will know that your pulmonologist is your lung doctor, your pulmonary artery is the one carrying blood to your lungs, and if you have a problem with pulmonary circulation, it means that you aren’t getting enough blood to your...you guessed it, lungs.

Example Sentences

Pulmonary embolism and hereditary coagulopathy — an arterial blockage in the lungs and issues with blood clotting either too much or too little — contributed to his death, People said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

Pulmonary hypertension, a disease marked by high blood pressure in the lungs, affects approximately 82 million people worldwide, the companies said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

The first, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome - the most common strain in the US - was the illness that led to Ms Arakawa's death, officials say.

From BBC • Mar. 8, 2025

Pulmonary hypertension encompasses a range of conditions of various causes that manifest in high blood pressure in the arteries of the lung and the right side of the heart.

From Science Daily • Jan. 10, 2024

The nervous Particles are in full Operation, & the Spirits agitated, with conspicuous vaporous Disordering in the whole of the Pulmonary Apparatus & the Arm.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson