orthopedic

American  

[awr-thuh-pee-dik] / ˌɔr θəˈpi dɪk /

Or orthopaedic

adjective

1. of or relating to orthopedics.

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Other Word Forms

• nonorthopedic adjective
• orthopedically adverb

Etymology

Origin of orthopedic

First recorded in 1830–40; ortho- + Greek paid- (stem of paîs “child”; ped- ) + -ic

Explanation

An orthopedic surgeon is one who operates on bones and muscles to fix them. The word orthopedic comes from the Greek orthos meaning "straight, correct" and paideia meaning "rearing of children." The term was originally used for children and the kind of treatment they received for skeletal deformities like bow legs or knock-knees. An orthopedic shoe is one that is supposed to help correct the deformed bones and support the weakened muscles of a foot.

Example Sentences

This aesthetic tech neck isn’t to be confused with the orthopedic condition, in which hours of looking down leave people with joint pain in the cervical spine.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

They are among the most common problems treated by orthopedic specialists, yet effective therapies remain limited.

From Science Daily • Feb. 12, 2026

The crash rate for alpine racing is so high that skiers become accustomed to competing with injuries, said Kevin Stone, an orthopedic surgeon in San Francisco and a former U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026

Globus Medical soared 34% after the orthopedic medical device company posted third-quarter adjusted earnings of $1.18 a share, smashing Wall Street estimates of 78 cents.

From Barron's • Nov. 7, 2025

Almost immediately he had a team of the nation’s best orthopedic specialists on planes, flying in to Boston at his expense.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand