medical

[ med-i-kuh l ]

/ ˈmɛd ɪ kəl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR medical ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of or relating to the science or practice of medicine: medical history; medical treatment.

curative; medicinal; therapeutic: medical properties.

pertaining to or requiring treatment by other than surgical means.

pertaining to or giving evidence of the state of one's health: a medical discharge from the army; a medical examination.

noun

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

Nearby words

mediatrix, medibank, medic, medicable, medicaid, medical, medical audit, medical certificate, medical diathermy, medical dictionary, medical examination

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 -al¹

Related forms

med·i·cal·ly, adverban·ti·med·i·cal, adjectivean·ti·med·i·cal·ly, adverbnon·med·i·cal, adjective

non·med·i·cal·ly, adverbpseu·do·med·i·cal, adjectivepseu·do·med·i·cal·ly, adverbqua·si-med·i·cal, adjectivequa·si-med·i·cal·ly, adverbun·med·i·cal, adjectiveun·med·i·cal·ly, adverb

Definition for medical (2 of 2)

medical dictionary

noun

a specialized dictionary covering terms used in the health professions by doctors, nurses, and others involved in allied health care services. A dictionary with authoritative spellings and definitions is a particularly crucial resource in medicine, where a misspelling or misunderstanding can have unfortunate consequences for people under care. Print dictionaries in this field may be sorted alphabetically or may be categorized according to medical specializations or by the various systems in the body, as the immune system and the respiratory system. The online Medical Dictionary on Dictionary.com allows alphabetical browsing in the combined electronic versions of more than one authoritative medical reference, insuring access to correct spellings, as well as immediate, direct access to a known search term typed into the search box on the site: A medical dictionary reveals that large numbers of medical terms are formed from the same Latin and Greek parts combined and recombined.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for medical

The court ruled she lacked the maturity to make her own medical decisions.
Should Teens Have The Right To Die?|Brandy Zadrozny|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Doubling down on Schedule I is, at best, a deranged way to push Americans away from “medical,” and toward recreational, use.
Obama’s Pot Policy Is Refer Madness|James Poulos|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But medical experts say being able to take advantage of American health care almost certainly prolonged his life.
Final Chapter for Accused Africa Bomber|Jamie Dettmer|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But the medical examiner reported that Brinsley had eaten nothing at all.
Exclusive: Inside a Cop-Killer’s Final Hours|Michael Daly|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Whether or not Hippocrates ever actually said “First, do no harm,” the axiom is central to medical ethics.
Why So Many Surgeons Are Psychos|Russell Saunders|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In not over a dozen of these calls did any of the cases demand immediate attention from a medical standpoint.
The Eugenic Marriage, Vol. 3 (of 4)|W. Grant Hague
Moreover, the medical gentlemen then strongly recommended moderation and care in the use of food.
Soyer's Culinary Campaign|Alexis Soyer
This deterioration of race has for some time been recognised by Medical Officers of Health.
The Sanitary Evolution of London|Henry Lorenzo Jephson
In the Liquozone article of this series I showed how medical evidence is itself "doctored."
The Great American Fraud|Samuel Hopkins Adams
All that medical science could suggest was done to no avail.
Alcohol: A Dangerous and Unnecessary Medicine, How and Why|Martha M. Allen

British Dictionary definitions for medical

medical

/ (ˈmɛdɪkəl) /

adjective

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

a less common word for medicinal

noun

informal a medical examination

Derived Formsmedically, adverb

Word Origin for medical

C17: from Medieval Latin medicālis, from Latin medicus physician, surgeon, from medērī to heal

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

Word Origin and History for medical (1 of 2)

medical

adj.

1640s, from French médical, from Late Latin medicalis "of a physician," from Latin medicus "physician, surgeon, medical man" (n.); "healing, madicinal" (adj.), from mederi "to heal, give medical attention to, cure," originally "know the best course for," from an early specialization of the PIE root *med- "to measure, limit, consider, advise, take appropriate measures" (cf. Greek medomai "be mindful of," medein "to rule;" Avestan vi-mad- "physician;" Latin meditari "think or reflect on, consider;" Irish miduir "judge;" Old English metan "to measure out"); also see meditation. The earlier adjective in English in this sense was medicinal. Related: Medically.

Word Origin and History for medical (1 of 2)

medical

1917, short for medical examination.

Medicine definitions for medical

medical

[ mĕd′ĭ-kəl ]

adj.

Of, relating to, or characterizing the study or practice of medicine.

Requiring treatment by medicine.

n.

A thorough physical examination.

medical

adjective

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of medical

Definition for medical (2 of 2)

medical dictionary

noun

Examples from the Web for medical

British Dictionary definitions for medical

medical

adjective

noun

Word Origin for medical

Word Origin and History for medical (1 of 2)

medical

Word Origin and History for medical (1 of 2)

medical

Medicine definitions for medical

medical

adj.

n.