clinic

1 of 2

noun

clin·​ic ˈkli-nik 

1

: a class of medical instruction in which patients are examined and discussed

2

: a group meeting devoted to the analysis and solution of concrete problems or to the acquiring of specific skills or knowledge

writing clinics

golf clinics

3

a

: a facility (as of a hospital) for diagnosis and treatment of outpatients

b

: a group practice in which several physicians work cooperatively

4

: a facility that offers professional services or consultation usually at discounted rates

a legal clinic

5

: an exemplary display or performance

put on a clinic in the tournament

-clinic

2 of 2

adjective combining form

1

: inclining : dipping

2

: having (so many) oblique intersections of the axes

triclinic

Examples of clinic in a Sentence

Noun

The clinic is offering free screening for diabetes.

He checked into a drug rehab clinic.

The hospital is holding a pain clinic on Tuesday night for anyone interested in learning how to deal with chronic pain.

A local club is giving a fishing clinic on Saturday.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

While some medi-spas adopt the clinical aesthetic, Acquaforte Thalasso & Spa is part-luxury-resort, part-wellness-clinic, surrounding itself with flamboyant, lush gardens resplendent with palms, banana trees, and tropical flowers. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026

Families use them to consult doctors remotely, arrange transport to distant clinics, send photos of wounds and symptoms, ask relatives for money, document abuse and reach schooling that is no longer available in person to many girls and women. — Fatima Faizi, NPR, 10 July 2026

Consider reaching out to these locations about serving as practical access points for basic health services, such as mobile clinics, periodic screenings or connected health kiosks that enable remote consultations. — Sas Mukherjee, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

The clinic will take place at the Yolo County Children’s Alliance’s back-to-school resource fair on Saturday. — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French clinique, from Greek klinikē medical practice at the sickbed, from feminine of klinikos of a bed, from klinē bed, from klinein to lean, recline — more at lean

Adjective combining form

International Scientific Vocabulary, from Greek klinein

First Known Use

Noun

1819, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing clinic

• put on a clinic

Rhymes for clinic

• clinic
• cynic
• linac
• pinnock
• baroclinic
• monoclinic
• polyclinic
• rabbinic
• triclinic

Kids Definition

clinic

noun

clin·​ic ˈklin-ik 

1

: a class of medical instruction in which patients are examined and discussed

2

: a group meeting for teaching a certain skill and working on individual problems

a reading clinic

3

: a place for the treatment of people needing medical help who do not stay overnight

Etymology

Noun

from French clinique "medical instruction at a hospital bed," from Greek klinikē "medical practice at a sickbed," derived from klinē "bed," from klinein "to lean, recline" — related to climate, climax

Medical Definition

clinic

noun

clin·​ic ˈklin-ik 

1

a

: a session or class of medical instruction in a hospital held at the bedside of patients serving as case studies

b

: a group of selected patients presented with discussion before doctors (as at a convention) for purposes of instruction

2

a

: an institution connected with a hospital or medical school where diagnosis and treatment are made available to outpatients

b

: a form of group practice in which several physicians (as specialists) work in cooperative association