medical
Americanadjective
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of or relating to the science or practice of medicine.
medical history; medical treatment.
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curative; medicinal; therapeutic.
medical properties.
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pertaining to or requiring treatment by other than surgical means.
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pertaining to or giving evidence of the state of one's health.
a medical discharge from the army; a medical examination.
noun
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medicals
plural
adjective
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of or relating to the science of medicine or to the treatment of patients by drugs, etc, as opposed to surgery
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a less common word for medicinal
noun
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
Derived Forms
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antimedicaladjective
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nonmedicaladjective
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pseudomedicaladjective
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quasi-medicaladjective
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unmedicaladjective
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antimedicallyadverb
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medicallyadverb
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nonmedicallyadverb
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pseudomedicallyadverb
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quasi-medicallyadverb
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unmedicallyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of medical
1640–50; < Medieval Latin medicālis, equivalent to Latin medic ( us ) medical (adj.), physician (noun) (derivative of medērī to heal; see -ic) + -ālis -al 1
Explanation
Medical can describe the practice of medicine, or a type of illness or injury. If bright red spots have erupted all over your arms, you probably have some sort of medical condition, and it would be wise for you to visit a doctor. Medical comes from the Latin word mederi, meaning "to heal," which is exactly what medical professionals such as doctors and nurses are trained to do. When you arrive at your doctor's office or local emergency room complaining of various medical conditions ranging from strep throat to a sprained wrist, doctors provide the necessary medical care.
Vocabulary lists containing medical
National Nurses Week: Common Medical Terms
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"Refugees Find New Lives"
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Chapter 15: The Spirit of Reform
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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.
See Examples For:
He didn't believe she had regained consciousness at any point, adding that he has been receiving updates through her medical power of attorney rather than consulting directly with doctors.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
The doses and treatment used in the clinical trial are being carefully controlled and monitored by medical professionals.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 4, 2026
By the later innings, other fans on the reserved level were reportedly seeking medical attention on the concourse.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026
Major medical groups condemn lethal injections so the people administering the drugs often have limited medical qualifications, experts said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026
Not like a medical doctor, but an astrophysicist—a scientist who studies the planets, stars, and other objects in space and how they work.
From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas
Both Sancho and Elliott are now at Villa to complete medicals and the formalities of their loan moves.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2025
“So on my visits, I’ll be doing medicals but just decided not to do it here.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 1, 2024
Unlike Judge’s foundation, which tweeted “Case closed” and congratulated its founder on returning to New York, Cashman had to wait out the paperwork, the medicals and the contract language.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 7, 2022
He’s on a draftable trajectory right now, as long as the medicals are OK.”
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 16, 2022
When I opened my eyes, the whole mass of the Jivro medicals was jammed in the doorway, struggling to get over each other, and the squeaking and rasping increased into a bedlam of sound.
From Valley of the Croen by Lee Tarbell
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.
