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Synonyms

clinical

American  
[klin-i-kuhl] / ˈklɪn ɪ kəl /

adjective

  1. pertaining to a clinic.

  2. concerned with or based on actual observation and treatment of disease in patients rather than experimentation or theory.

  3. extremely objective and realistic; dispassionately analytic; unemotionally critical.

    She regarded him with clinical detachment.

  4. pertaining to or used in a sickroom.

    a clinical bandage.

  5. Ecclesiastical.

    1. (of a sacrament) administered on a deathbed or sickbed.

    2. (of a convert or conversion) made on a deathbed or sickbed.


clinical British  
/ ˈklɪnɪkəl /

adjective

  1. of or relating to a clinic

  2. of or relating to the bedside of a patient, the course of his disease, or the observation and treatment of patients directly

    a clinical lecture

    clinical medicine

  3. scientifically detached; strictly objective

    a clinical attitude to life

  4. plain, simple, and usually unattractive

    clinical furniture

"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

  • clinically adverb
  • clinicalness noun
  • nonclinical adjective
  • nonclinically adverb
  • overclinical adjective
  • overclinically adverb
  • semiclinical adjective
  • semiclinically adverb
  • unclinical adjective

Etymology

Origin of clinical

First recorded in 1770–80; clinic + -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.

Roughly 25% of samples sent to clinical laboratories came back positive for the flu in the week ended Dec. 20, the CDC said.

From The Wall Street Journal

In announcing the prior-authorization program in June, CMS said “wasteful care, including services that provide little to no clinical benefit, not only increase costs, but also put patients at risk.”

From MarketWatch

In a randomized clinical trial, magnesium increased vitamin D in people who were deficient, while reducing levels in those who already had high amounts.

From Science Daily

Producer Jack Antonoff has described making Sabrina Carpenter's Please, Please, Please with physical instruments, played imperfectly, as a reaction to the clinical nature of modern pop.

From BBC

The product tested is expected to be available in parts of Europe next year, while the path to approval in the U.S. will require another clinical trial.

From The Wall Street Journal