orthopedic
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of orthopedic
First recorded in 1830–40; ortho- + Greek paid- (stem of paîs “child”; cf. 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.
Vocabulary lists containing orthopedic
Flowers for Algernon
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Clean Getaway
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Merci Suárez Changes Gears
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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.
She also holds a joint appointment in the Center for Musculoskeletal Research in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery.
From Science Daily • Mar. 23, 2026
It was pioneered by legendary surgeon Frank Jobe, who, along with Bob Kerlan, formed the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic, where ElAttrache has spent his entire career.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 27, 2024
Contreras 1, Orthopedic 0: Erick Vargas scored to send top-seeded Contreras into the City Section Division IV semifinals against Dymally.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2024
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Joseph Donnelly has repaired numerous torn ACLs in female high school soccer players in the Bay Area where most high school athletes play on artificial turf.
From Seattle Times • Oct. 9, 2023
Orthopedic surgeons were attached to the medical force near the firing line and to the different hospitals back to the base orthopedic hospital which was established within one hundred miles of the firing line.
From History of the World War An Authentic Narrative of the World's Greatest War by March, Francis Andrew
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.
