arterial

1 of 2

adjective

ar·​te·​ri·​al är-ˈtir-ē-əl 

1

a

: of or relating to an artery

b

: relating to or being the bright red blood present in most arteries that has been oxygenated in lungs or gills

2

: of, relating to, or constituting through traffic

arterially

är-ˈtir-ē-ə-lē 

adverb

arterial

2 of 2

noun

: a through street or highway

Synonyms of arterial

Noun

• highway
• road
• thoroughfare
• street
• artery
• freeway
• route
• expressway
• carriageway
• roadway
• boulevard
• turnpike

Examples of arterial in a Sentence

Noun

one of the main arterials connecting the airport with the city

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

This slow accumulation of arterial plaque is a process called atherosclerosis. —Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 14 May 2026

The medical examiner's office determined his cause of death to be atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, ASCVD, which is caused by plaque buildup in arterial walls. —Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026

Noun

The release stated that symptoms in humans could include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever, while severe cases may lead to arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, or urinary tract symptoms. —Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026

Because the fire is being allowed to burn out, the closure along Santa Fe, a busy arterial, could be prolonged, Assell said. —Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 27 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, borrowed from Middle French and Medieval Latin; Middle French arterial, borrowed from Medieval Latin artēriālis, from Latin artēria — more at artery + -ālis -al entry 1

Noun

noun derivative of arterial entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1920, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing arterial

• intra-arterial

Rhymes for arterial

• cereal
• virial
• antibacterial
• biomaterial
• mycobacterial
• bacterial
• ethereal
• funereal
• imperial
• material
• sidereal
• venereal

Kids Definition

arterial

adjective

ar·​te·​ri·​al

är-ˈtir-ē-əl

1

a

: of or relating to an artery

b

: being the bright red oxygen-rich blood present in most arteries

2

: of, relating to, or being routes for through traffic

arterial highways

arterially

-ē-ə-lē

adverb

Medical Definition

arterial

adjective

ar·​te·​ri·​al är-ˈtir-ē-əl 

1

: of or relating to an artery

2

: relating to or being the bright red blood present in most arteries that has been oxygenated in lungs or gills compare venous sense 3

arterially

-ē-ə-lē 

adverb