clinically
Americanadverb
Explanation
When a medication has been clinically proven, it's been tested on actual patients. Clinically can also describe a cold and detached manner, a personality better suited to robots than people. It's a good thing when doctors and scientists do things clinically, because they're not only using studies and statistics to make decisions — they're talking to and observing patients. On the other hand, when a doctor treats you clinically at your yearly appointment, she is efficient but aloof, rather than warm and welcoming. Clinically is from clinical, from the Latin clinicus, "physician who visits patients in their beds," with the Greek root klinike, "at the sickbed."
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.
Dr Simon Cork, from Anglia Ruskin University, said while the weight-loss benefits of Foundayo were less than other treatments, patients could still expect to see "significant, clinically meaningful changes to their weight".
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
Testosterone has been clinically associated in numerous studies with physical strength, elevated red blood cell counts, higher cardiovascular capacity and aggression—all of which can help enormously in any kind of physical contest.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
“Continuity of caregivers, physical environment, and routine are not merely quality-of-life considerations for this population,” he wrote, “they are clinically meaningful protective factors.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026
Many participants experienced gains large enough to be considered clinically meaningful.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 21, 2026
After a monkey was clinically dead, it was opened up by Captain Steve Denny.
From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston
![]()
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.