surgical

American  

[sur-ji-kuhl] / ˈsɜr dʒɪ kəl /

adjective

1. pertaining to or involving surgery or surgeons.

2. used in surgery.

3. characterized by extreme precision or incisiveness.

   a surgical air strike against enemy targets.

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surgical British  

/ ˈsɜːdʒɪkəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, involving, or used in surgery

2. (of an action) performed with extreme precision

   a surgical air attack on the missile complex

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Other Word Forms

• nonsurgical adjective
• nonsurgically adverb
• postsurgical adjective
• presurgical adjective
• prosurgical adjective
• surgically adverb
• unsurgical adjective
• unsurgically adverb

Etymology

Origin of surgical

First recorded in 1760–70; surg(eon) + -ical

Example Sentences

She said she is furious that she is having to go through an early medicated menopause because there are too many people ahead of her on the surgical waiting list.

From BBC

While Means did attend medical school, she dropped out during her surgical residency with just a few months left, claiming that she became disillusioned with traditional medicine.

From Salon

Waltz added that the US had carried out a "surgical law enforcement operation" to apprehend Maduro, whom he is also referred to as a "fugitive from justice".

From BBC

After several years of huge returns, he is advocating a more surgical approach to picking stocks.

From The Wall Street Journal

As authorities searched the vehicle, they found blue surgical masks, positively identified clothing and the tracking device underneath the driver’s seat, the criminal complaint said.

From Los Angeles Times