surgical

adjective

sur·​gi·​cal ˈsər-ji-kəl 

1

a

: of or relating to surgeons or surgery

surgical skills

b

: used in or in connection with surgery

surgical gauze

c

: following or resulting from surgery

surgical fevers

2

: characteristic of or resembling surgery or a surgeon especially in control or incisiveness

surgical precision

surgically

ˈsər-ji-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of surgical in a Sentence

The work was done with surgical precision.

Recent Examples on the Web

According to the clinic, their surgical model is doctor-led; the doctor who examines the patient draws the plan and the hairline, opens the channels, and stays in the operating room with the team throughout the procedure. — Connie Etemadi, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026

At the time, hospital officials said the facility would house pediatric and newborn intensive care units and a new surgical center. — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026

Kirby Smart has been surgical over his 11 seasons in flipping the script in the Florida rivalry. — Jeff Sentell, AJC.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Finally, the impact of high oil prices on its Global Medical Products and Distribution segment — which delivers medical, surgical, and laboratory products to hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers — is worth monitoring. — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 1 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

surgeon + -ical

First Known Use

1707, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing surgical

• pre-surgical
• surgical mask
• surgical spirit
• surgical strike

Rhymes for surgical

• chirurgical
• liturgical
• nonsurgical
• postsurgical
• dramaturgical
• metallurgical
• microsurgical
• neurosurgical

Kids Definition

surgical

adjective

sur·​gi·​cal ˈsər-ji-kəl 

: of, relating to, or associated with surgeons or surgery

surgical skills

surgical equipment

a surgical fever

surgically

-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

surgical

adjective

sur·​gi·​cal ˈsər-ji-kəl 

1

: of, relating to, or concerned with surgeons or surgery

surgical skill

2

: requiring surgical treatment

a surgical appendix

3

: used in or in connection with surgery

surgical gauze

4

: following or resulting from surgery

surgical fevers