pulmonary
Americanadjective
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of or relating to the lungs.
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of the nature of a lung; lunglike.
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affecting the lungs.
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having lungs or lunglike organs.
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pertaining to or affected with disease of the lungs.
adjective
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of, or relating to or affecting the lungs
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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
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Vocabulary Video Contest (2013) - List 1
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Counting by 7s
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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.
Stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were the second and third leading causes of death in 2023, responsible for approximately 11 percent and six percent of total deaths respectively.
From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026
Bonino was diagnosed in 2015 with pulmonary microcytoma -- a particularly aggressive lung cancer -- receiving the all clear in 2023.
From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026
In a study published in Nature Biotechnology, researchers evaluated Insilico’s investigational drug—known as rentosertib—for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, an age-related lung disease.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026
Her diagnosis with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018 also led to widespread public sympathy.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
“I used to be a candy striper in a pulmonary ward. That cough does not sound good.”
From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon
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.
