pulmonary
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to the lungs.
-
of the nature of a lung; lunglike.
-
affecting the lungs.
-
having lungs or lunglike organs.
-
pertaining to or affected with disease of the lungs.
adjective
-
of, or relating to or affecting the lungs
-
having lungs or lunglike organs
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of pulmonary
1650–60; < Latin pulmōnārius of the lungs, equivalent to pulmōn- (stem of pulmō lung; akin to Greek pleúmōn, later pneúmōn lung; cf. pneuma) + -ārius -ary
Explanation
Pulmonary means of or relating to the lungs. A pulmonary specialist is a doctor who treats lung problems. Once you know that pulmonary means "relating to the lungs," you know pretty much all there is to know. It will give you a lot more insight into whatever doctor's visits are coming up, because you will know that your pulmonologist is your lung doctor, your pulmonary artery is the one carrying blood to your lungs, and if you have a problem with pulmonary circulation, it means that you aren’t getting enough blood to your...you guessed it, lungs.
Vocabulary lists containing pulmonary
Courage to Soar
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!
Vocabulary Video Contest (2013) - List 1
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!
Counting by 7s
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.
A 2010 study found that hantavirus pulmonary syndrome primarily affects men of working age engaged in rural activities.
From MarketWatch • May 12, 2026
Early proof of concept experiments also suggested that the same approach may one day be useful for other inflammation driven conditions, including traumatic brain injury and pulmonary arterial hypertension.
From Science Daily • May 5, 2026
In the Americas, the most dangerous form is hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, or HPS, a severe lung infection.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026
He died of heart failure and acute pulmonary edema -- a condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs -- two weeks after going under the knife.
From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026
I suspected that he was sick in bed, as he had been prone to pulmonary illnesses since the explosion had charred his lungs.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
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.
