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.

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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

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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

Li, who was once able to get around in a wheelchair, experienced a sudden medical crisis in 2020 when he was 30 years old.

From Barron's

“UCLA’s medical school is committed to fair processes in all of our programs and activities, including admissions, consistent with federal and state anti-discrimination laws,” Hampton said.

From Los Angeles Times

A family spokesperson confirmed the man in the video was Pretti—and said he sustained injuries during the incident but didn’t get medical care.

From The Wall Street Journal

A stroke is a life-threatening medical condition which happens when blood stops flowing to a part of your brain.

From BBC

Healthcare workers have also told the BBC that security forces are present in hospitals and that they are constantly monitoring patients' medical records to identify injured protesters.

From BBC

Related Words

• medicinal
• therapeutic