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
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Unit 1, Week 3
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
med (heal; care for)
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Imports of consumer goods rose in May, driven by batteries and battery chargers from China, and imports of pharmaceutical and medicinal products rose, mainly coming in from Germany, the U.S. and Spain.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
They’re refreshing in a way that’s almost medicinal: salty, sharp, ice-cold.
From Salon ● May 28, 2026
This natural chemical comes from Centella asiatica, a commonly used Asian medicinal herb.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 21, 2026
Indigenous people and Spanish settlers utilized the viscous goo for medicinal purposes and waterproofing boats.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 15, 2026
“Papa used to make it and I never quite got out of the habit, even though I rarely use it—and” she added quickly, “only for medicinal purposes.”
From "Dragonwings" by Laurence Yep
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.
