1
: of, relating to, or situated near the spinal column
2
a
: of, relating to, or affecting the spinal cord
spinal reflexes
b
: having the spinal cord functionally isolated (as by surgical section) from the brain
experiments on spinal animals
3
: of, relating to, or resembling a spine
: a spinal anesthetic
Examples of spinal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Andrew McGowan, Variety, 12 Aug. 2025
In September 2014, Danielle Spencer was diagnosed with breast cancer—a revelation that came as a shock after years of battling spinal injuries.
—Amanda Castro
hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 22 July 2025
In 2018, the Texas native was diagnosed with brain and spinal cancer, with doctors giving him five months to live, according to the United States Secret Service.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for spinal
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Adjective
In 2004, she was diagnosed with spinal stenosis and underwent a surgery that left her paralyzed from the waist down for eight months.
—Andrew McGowan, Variety, 12 Aug. 2025
In September 2014, Danielle Spencer was diagnosed with breast cancer—a revelation that came as a shock after years of battling spinal injuries.
—Amanda Castro
hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
Noun
The singer also suffered injuries from a 2019 fall that exacerbated an earlier spinal injury that was caused by a 2003 ATV accident.
—Stylecaster Editors, StyleCaster, 22 July 2025
In 2018, the Texas native was diagnosed with brain and spinal cancer, with doctors giving him five months to live, according to the United States Secret Service.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for spinal
Cite this Entry
“Spinal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spinal. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
spinal
1 of 2 adjective
spi·nal
ˈspīn-ᵊl 
1
: of, relating to, or situated near the spinal column
2
a
: of, relating to, or affecting the spinal cord
spinal reflexes
b
: having the spinal cord functionally isolated (as by surgical section) from the brain
experiments on spinal animals
c
: used for spinal anesthesia
a spinal anesthetic
3
: made for or fitted to the spinal column
a spinal brace
spinal
2 of 2 noun
: a spinal anesthetic
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