bronchial

adjective

bron·​chi·​al ˈbräŋ-kē-əl 

: of or relating to the bronchi or their ramifications in the lungs

bronchially

ˈbräŋ-kē-ə-lē 

adverb

Examples of bronchial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

She was diagnosed as having bronchial pneumonia and spent the next two weeks in bed. —Jim Shepard, New Yorker, 8 June 2025

Though Francis' death followed a series of respiratory complications, including bilateral pneumonia and bronchial infections earlier this year, his medical team concluded that the fatal event was neurological. —Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025

Francis' health had taken a turn for the worse on Friday, due to a bronchial spasm that caused him to inhale vomit, requiring noninvasive mechanical ventilation. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 2025

After the bronchial spasm, doctors aspirated the vomit and placed Francis on noninvasive mechanical ventilation, a mask that pumps oxygen into his lungs. —Nicole Winfield and Giovanna Dell’orto, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin bronchiālis, from Late Latin bronchium "branch of a bronchus, bronchial tube" (borrowed from Greek brónchion, diminutive of brónchos "throat, trachea") + Latin -ālis -al entry 1 — more at bronchus

First Known Use

circa 1703, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing bronchial

• bronchial asthma
• bronchial tube

Rhymes for bronchial

• endobronchial
• tracheobronchial

Kids Definition

bronchial

adjective

bron·​chi·​al ˈbräŋ-kē-əl 

: of, relating to, or involving the bronchi or their branches

Medical Definition

bronchial

adjective

bron·​chi·​al ˈbräŋ-kē-əl 

: of or relating to the bronchi or their ramifications in the lungs

bronchially

-ə-lē 

adverb