medical

American  

[med-i-kuhl] / ˈmɛd ɪ kəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the science or practice of medicine.

   medical history; medical treatment.

2. curative; medicinal; therapeutic.

   medical properties.

3. pertaining to or requiring treatment by other than surgical means.

4. pertaining to or giving evidence of the state of one's health.

   a medical discharge from the army; a medical examination.

---

noun

1. something done or received in regard to the state of one's health, as a medical examination.

medical British  

/ ˈmɛdɪkəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the science of medicine or to the treatment of patients by drugs, etc, as opposed to surgery

2. a less common word for medicinal

---

noun

1. informal a medical examination

Usage

What does medical mean? Medical describes something related to the science or practice of medicine, as in My doctor’s medical experience with cancer is extensive.Medical also describes something that provides a cure or therapy for an illness or disease, as in Garlic has medical properties that have been widely studied.Example: He has to receive medical treatment one way or another.

Other Word Forms

• antimedical adjective
• antimedically adverb
• medically adverb
• nonmedical adjective
• nonmedically adverb
• pseudomedical adjective
• pseudomedically adverb
• quasi-medical adjective
• quasi-medically adverb
• unmedical adjective
• unmedically adverb

Etymology

Origin of medical

1640–50; < Medieval Latin medicālis, equivalent to Latin medic ( us ) medical (adj.), physician (noun) (derivative of medērī to heal; -ic ) + -ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

“A near-zero payment update when medical costs are rising 7% to 9% a year does not hold the program steady,” the Better Medicare Alliance said last month External link.

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

The Los Angeles County medical examiner said the cause of death stemmed from the combined effects of physical exertion, environmental heat exposure, blunt trauma and COVID-19 infection.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

The main cause: Prices are far higher in the U.S. for the same medical products and services, from surgeries to drugs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

In 2024 and 2025, the world saw the highest number of measles outbreaks in more than 20 years, according to medical journal The Lancet.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

This ability to work and to focus set him apart even from other medical students.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Related Words

• medicinal
• therapeutic