clinically

American  

[kli-nik-lee] / ˈklɪ nɪk li /

adverb

1. in a clinical way.

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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

"When I treat patients in the diabetes clinic, I see a huge variation in response to these GLP-1-based medications and it is difficult to predict this response clinically," Umapathysivam said.

From Science Daily • Apr. 12, 2026

It still “plans to offer access to compounded GLP-1s if a provider determines that a compounded product is clinically necessary,” according to a company news release.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

Ranji dismissed the “scary-sounding” phrasing, noting that wearable data isn’t clinically reliable.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

Novo said Monday that Hims would no longer advertise compounded GLP-1 offerings as part of the agreement, adding that “existing patients will have the opportunity to transition to FDA-approved alternatives when clinically appropriate.”

From Barron's • Mar. 9, 2026

"If I were spending a month alone," Hannah said yesterday, "I would start a meditation practice. It's clinically proven to lower blood pressure and boost brain activity. It even helps your immune system."

From "We Are Okay" by Nina LaCour