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

Future work will examine how temperature changes relate to emergency medical service activations tied to cardiovascular events.

From Science Daily

Each passing week tankers can’t traverse the narrow waterway, the world loses 70 million barrels of oil, as well as a host of other products vital for chip manufacturing, medical equipment and consumer goods.

From The Wall Street Journal

For now, these modes certainly complement each other, as a recent Iranian attack on a U.S. medical company’s data demonstrates.

From Salon

It is also being supported by individual medical professionals working in the region who are concerned about content that women are being influenced by on social media.

From BBC

He will not be allowed to use a phone or social media and the only visits he can receive are those by his family, lawyers and medical personnel - which will be restricted to limited periods.

From BBC

Related Words

• medicinal
• therapeutic