topical

[top-i-kuh l]

See more synonyms for topical on Thesaurus.com

adjective

pertaining to or dealing with matters of current or local interest: a topical reference.
pertaining to the subject of a discourse, composition, or the like.
of a place; local.

Medicine/Medical. of, relating to, or applied externally to a particular part of the body; local: a topical anesthetic.

noun

Philately. any of a collection of different stamps treating the same subject.

Origin of topical

1580–90; < Greek topik(ós) local, pertaining to commonplaces (see topo-, -ic) + -al¹

Related formstop·i·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for topical

Contemporary Examples

For a while he mines a topical vein: Imelda Marcos, the S&L crisis, AIDS.
The Stacks: Robin Williams, More Than A Shtick Figure
Joe Morgenstern
August 16, 2014
“Cocaine specifically is still used as a topical anesthetic,” says John Halpern.
Why We Need Medical Meth + Cocaine
Valerie Vande Panne
February 22, 2014
Some viewers may get their news from watching “Update” (or other topical TV shows); Fallon got some of his news from writing it.
Can Jimmy Fallon Be Himself on ‘The Tonight Show’?
Tom Shales
February 17, 2014
It's those attributes, more than the clever writing or topical satire that made the episode such a pleasure to watch.
Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake’s Perfect, Cameo-Filled 'Saturday Night Live'
Kevin Fallon
December 22, 2013
Topical Halloween costumes really just reveal the absurd things Americans are obsessed with.
The Most Popular Halloween Costumes Through the Years: 1985-2013
Kevin Fallon
October 31, 2013

Historical Examples

It's topical, so there's just a chance they'll use it to-night.
People of Position
Stanley Portal Hyatt
Such an examination could be called a "topical examination."
College Teaching
Paul Klapper
In topical discussions the facts should be stated in a logical order.
College Teaching
Paul Klapper
"Fact" questions and topical discussions should be interspersed.
College Teaching
Paul Klapper
The fact is that the topical preface is being overdone these days.
Punch or the London Charivari, Vol. 147, December 23, 1914
Various

British Dictionary definitions for topical

topical

adjective

of, relating to, or constituting current affairs
relating to a particular place; local
of or relating to a topic or topics
(of a drug, ointment, etc) for application to the body surface; local

Derived Formstopicality (ˌtɒpɪˈkælɪtɪ), nountopically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for topical

adj.

1580s, from topic + -al (1). Medical sense is from c.1600. Meaning "of or pertaining to topics of the day" is from 1873.

topical in Medicine

topical

(tŏp′ĭ-kəl)

adj.

Of or applied to a definite or localized area of the body.

Related formstop′i•cal•ly adv.

topical

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}topical

Examples from the Web for topical

Contemporary Examples

For a while he mines a topical vein: Imelda Marcos, the S&L crisis, AIDS.

“Cocaine specifically is still used as a topical anesthetic,” says John Halpern.

Some viewers may get their news from watching “Update” (or other topical TV shows); Fallon got some of his news from writing it.

It's those attributes, more than the clever writing or topical satire that made the episode such a pleasure to watch.

Topical Halloween costumes really just reveal the absurd things Americans are obsessed with.

Historical Examples

It's topical, so there's just a chance they'll use it to-night.

Such an examination could be called a "topical examination."

In topical discussions the facts should be stated in a logical order.

"Fact" questions and topical discussions should be interspersed.

The fact is that the topical preface is being overdone these days.

topical

Word Origin and History for topical

adj.

topical

Origin of topical