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:
"We heard that medical assistance would be provided, but nothing has arrived yet," Rista Mari, a public relations officer at the Ruteng Regional General Hospital in Manggarai Regency, told the BBC.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
The injured are being treated at medical facilities in Kryvih Rih, a city west of the Dnipro river in southern Ukraine.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026
The aid included food, clothes, clean water and emergency medical equipment.
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
The girl had to be resuscitated, admitted to hospital and put on a ventilator, and she was subjected to medical investigations and procedures.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
It was a shocking request and of no possible physical comfort or medical benefit to Lincoln, but Dr. Leale allowed it.
From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson
He said: "This is why the medics helped us pass our medicals," adding the medic conducting the tests was "completely aware" of this,
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2025
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
New York chose not to offer Rocker a contract after evaluating his medicals.
From New York Times ● Jul. 18, 2022
I oughtn't to have got myself swept along with those medicals.
From Ulysses by James Joyce
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.
