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.
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
I don’t think it’s entirely unfair to say that a large portion of the effusive response to “Obsession” has been from younger viewers getting their first taste of topical horror gore shocks.
From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2026
When a band goes topical, it risks trying too hard to be relevant.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
Original topical programming that does not have a shelf life is challenging to sustain on a streaming service.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
Once we bought the wax and some topical medicine to numb the inside of my nose, we marched back out of the store.
From "Dead End in Norvelt" by Jack Gantos
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.
