clinic

noun clin·ic \ ˈkli-nik \

Definition of clinic

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

See clinic defined for English-language learners

See clinic defined for kids

Examples of clinic in a Sentence

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 of clinic from the Web

The name change will affect all facilities in St. Vincent's Health System, a group of six hospitals and clinics in central and north-central Alabama.

— amy yurkanin, AL.com, "St. Vincent's Hospital changes name to Ascension," 24 Oct. 2017
There’s raising money to finance the procedure, getting an appointment on the books, arranging transportation, and taking time off from school to make it to the clinic during business hours.

— claire lampen, Teen Vogue, "How the 20-Week Abortion Ban Would Hurt Teen Girls," 6 Oct. 2017
The nonprofit clinic provides legal advice and representation to people who can't afford to hire a lawyer.

— steve schmadeke, chicagotribune.com, "After legal challenges, Cook County's court for unwed parents quietly goes away," 17 Sep. 2017
In its place now stand two upscale residential developments: Spencer 68, which features 220 apartments and lofts, and the LINQ, 90 units on four floors above a soon-to-open medical clinic.

— lynn thompson, The Seattle Times, "From a drive-by suburb to a vibrant city, Kenmore is busily revitalizing itself," 12 Sep. 2017
The company owns Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center and other hospitals and health clinics in the city.

— cassie cope, charlotteobserver, "Here’s how Charlotte hospitals are preparing for Hurricane Irma," 7 Sep. 2017
Addiction recovery is a highly profitable recession-proof business, with an endless demand for help and a limited supply of Ibogaine clinics.

— lance dixon, miamiherald, "He pitched investors on a ‘miracle cure’ in the Bahamas. Now he faces felony charges," 1 Nov. 2017
He was immediately set up for an appointment with the TriHealth Cancer Institute in their GI multidisciplinary clinic.

— trihealth, Cincinnati.com, "Cancer-free and making music after robotic surgery," 30 Oct. 2017
Doblin predicts that there will someday be thousands of these clinics, offering not just MDMA but also other psychedelics that were formerly banned substances.

— josh dean, WSJ, "How MDMA Went From Club Drug to ‘Breakthrough Therapy’," 18 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'clinic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of clinic

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1827

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

-clinic

adjective combining form

Definition of -clinic

1 : inclining : dipping

2 : having (so many) oblique intersections of the axes

triclinic

Origin and Etymology of -clinic

International Scientific Vocabulary, from Greek klinein

CLINIC Defined for English Language Learners

clinic

noun

Definition of clinic for English Language Learners

: a place where people get medical help
: an event at which a doctor is available to talk to people about a particular health matter
: a meeting during which a group of people learn about a particular thing or work on a particular problem