1
a
: relating to, situated at, or forming the base
b
: arising from the base of a stem
basal leaves
2
a
: of or relating to the foundation, base, or essence : fundamental
b
: of, relating to, or being essential for maintaining the fundamental vital activities of an organism : minimal
a basal diet
c
: used for teaching beginners
basal readers
basally
adverb
Examples of basal in a Sentence
many students lacked even a basal familiarity with the topic
Recent Examples on the Web
My father had basal skin cancer and my brother had it.
—
Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 15 Oct. 2025
Mazlish watched as his wife programmed her insulin pump to deliver both dribbles of basal insulin throughout the day and a large bolus with meals.
—Carrie Arnold, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2025
Both doctors, however, said there’s not yet enough data to say whether nicotinamide supplementation is beneficial for people who have never had skin cancer, or who have had melanoma—which is less common but deadlier than basal and squamous cell disease.
—Jamie Ducharme, Health, 26 Sep. 2025
While the researchers urge that this is no replacement for covering up and applying sunscreen to exposed skin, for people who’ve had a first basal or squamous cell carcinoma removed, a daily niacinamide regimen is emerging as a practical, inexpensive way to lower the odds of a recurrence.
—New Atlas, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for basal
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 15 Oct. 2025
Mazlish watched as his wife programmed her insulin pump to deliver both dribbles of basal insulin throughout the day and a large bolus with meals.
—Carrie Arnold, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2025
Both doctors, however, said there’s not yet enough data to say whether nicotinamide supplementation is beneficial for people who have never had skin cancer, or who have had melanoma—which is less common but deadlier than basal and squamous cell disease.
—Jamie Ducharme, Health, 26 Sep. 2025
While the researchers urge that this is no replacement for covering up and applying sunscreen to exposed skin, for people who’ve had a first basal or squamous cell carcinoma removed, a daily niacinamide regimen is emerging as a practical, inexpensive way to lower the odds of a recurrence.
—New Atlas, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for basal
Cite this Entry
“Basal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/basal. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
1
: relating to, situated at, or forming the base
2
: of, relating to, or essential for maintaining the fundamental vital activities of an organism (as respiration, heartbeat, or excretion)
a basal diet
see basal metabolism
3
: serving as or serving to induce an initial comatose or unconscious state that forms a basis for further anesthetization
basal narcosis
a basal anesthetic
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share