medicinal
Americanadjective
-
of, relating to, or having the properties of a medicine; curative; remedial.
medicinal properties; medicinal substances.
-
unpalatable; disagreeable.
a medicinal taste.
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
- medicinally adverb
- nonmedicinal adjective
- nonmedicinally adverb
- semimedicinal adjective
- unmedicinal adjective
- unmedicinally adverb
Etymology
Origin of medicinal
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English word from Latin word medicīnālis. See medicine, -al 1
Explanation
A substance that can cure or heal you is medicinal. Some people swear that chicken soup has medicinal qualities when you have a cold. Herbalists grow medicinal plants, such as mint and witch hazel, that have healing properties for various ailments. Your mother may believe in the medicinal properties of a hot cup of tea, while other people swear by the medicinal quality of the salty sea air. The adjective medicinal comes from medicine and has a Latin root, medicina, "the healing art, a remedy, or medicine."
Vocabulary lists containing medicinal
"Rappaccini's Daughter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne
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Unit 1, Week 3
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med (heal; care for)
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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.
He also emphasized empirical medical evidence over unproven theory, stressed the body’s natural ability to heal, and generally advocated what today we would call holistic medicine, including the use of medicinal herbs.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026
I can’t speak to the medicinal benefits of snow fungus tea.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026
Lead author Dr. Jack Wilson from the University of Sydney's Matilda Centre said the results raise serious questions about approving medicinal cannabis for conditions like anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
From Science Daily • Mar. 20, 2026
Wellness influencers and regular people alike started adopting traditional Chinese medicinal practices.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026
For these things —bark of hemlock, root of water lily, leaf of crane’s bill —had medicinal value.
From "Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad" by Ann Petry
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.
