subclinical

American  

[suhb-klin-i-kuhl] / sʌbˈklɪn ɪ kəl /

adjective

Medicine/Medical.

1. pertaining to an early stage of a disease; having no noticeable clinical symptoms.

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subclinical British  

/ sʌbˈklɪnɪkəl /

adjective

1. med of or relating to the stage in the course of a disease before the symptoms are first noted

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Other Word Forms

• subclinically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of subclinical

First recorded in 1930–35; sub- + clinical

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

subclinical

"When an animal has become sick from an infection their immune system is compromised which increases the risk of further disease exacerbation from other infectious agents that may have once been subclinical," Mishin explained.

From Science Daily ● May 26, 2026

Whether the medication caused it, accelerated a subclinical condition, or simply unmasked something already there is nearly impossible to determine.

From Slate ● Mar. 22, 2026

But it underscored “that humans ARE susceptible to subclinical infections and possible reassortment risks, which we already knew, I guess.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 13, 2025

They did find that participants who scored high for emotional eating did show some signs of subclinical cardiovascular damage 13 years later.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 13, 2023

In addition, because hearing ability exists on a continuum, even subclinical hearing loss can mean a greater risk for dementia.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 20, 2022