spinal
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
-
of or relating to the spine or the spinal cord
-
denoting a laboratory animal in which the spinal cord has been severed
a spinal rat
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of spinal
1570–80; < Late Latin spīnālis, equivalent to Latin spīn ( a ) spina + -ālis -al 1
Explanation
Spinal describes the area of the backbone. Your spinal cord, which is protected by the vertebrae of the backbone, connects the brain and the body. A spinal injury is serious because it affects the body’s ability to move and function. The adjective spinal comes up often in medicine. Spinal fluid acts as a cushion for your brain and spine; a spinal tap is a special kind of test for evaluating this fluid. Doctors and nurses often refer to anesthesia that's injected into the spine simply as a spinal. The adjective has been around since the 16th century, from the Late Latin spinalis. "pertaining to a thorn or the spine."
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.
As a director, his output included classic films like 1984's rock music mockumentary "This is Spinal Tap," fantasy gem "The Princess Bride" from 1987, and seminal coming-of-age movie "Stand By Me."
From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026
A celebrated director and comedic actor, Rob Reiner was known for his work on iconic films, including “When Harry Met Sally…,” “Stand By Me” and “This Is Spinal Tap.”
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2026
Glaser sported a hat for Reiner’s movie “This is Spinal Tap” and referenced one of its signature lines.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 12, 2026
My family were signposted to a charity called the Jennifer Trust, now known as Spinal Muscular Atrophy UK, which helped support me.
From BBC • Jan. 9, 2026
“Tom Ross has got Sim covered,” said the unhurried voice of Spinal Maginnis.
From Stepsons of Light by Rhodes, Eugene Manlove
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.
