clinical

adjective

clin·​i·​cal ˈkli-ni-kəl How to pronounce clinical (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or conducted in or as if in a clinic: such as
a
: involving direct observation of the patient
clinical diagnosis
b
: based on or characterized by observable and diagnosable symptoms
clinical treatment
clinical tuberculosis
2
: analytical or coolly dispassionate
describing the situation with clinical detachment
3
US, informal : done or performed with excellence and precision : exemplary
In the meantime Bryant … continued his clinical shooting, which has allowed him to more than double his scoring average …Alexander Wolff
clinically adverb

Examples of clinical in a Sentence

Both experimental and clinical evidence show that the treatment is effective. She enjoys her clinical practice but is looking forward to working in a laboratory. Three hundred patients were involved in the clinical study.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Defining clinical practice Although the Women’s Health Initiative’s four original clinical trials ended by 2005, researchers have continued to follow participants, collect new data and launch spinoff studies that shape health recommendations for women over 65. Jean Wactawski-Wende, The Conversation, 2 May 2025 The rosemary oil is infused with biotin, which is a vitamin linked to hair growth (though clinical research has been inconclusive). Danielle Cohen, Glamour, 2 May 2025 Glanville hopes to get philanthropists or foundations to help pay for the clinical studies and manufacture in order to make the resulting antivenom affordable globally. Ari Daniel, NPR, 2 May 2025 Earlier this year, a 20% staffing cut to the World Trade Health Center Program led to the termination of 16 doctors and nurses, reducing the clinical team to 72, Feal explained. Liz Neporent, ABC News, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for clinical

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of clinical was circa 1728

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Cite this Entry

“Clinical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clinical. Accessed 7 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

clinical

adjective
clin·​i·​cal ˈklin-i-kəl How to pronounce clinical (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or conducted in or as if in a clinic
clinical examination
2
: involving or based on direct observation of the patient
clinical studies
clinically adverb

Medical Definition

clinical

adjective
clin·​i·​cal ˈklin-i-kəl How to pronounce clinical (audio)
: of, relating to, or conducted in or as if in a clinic: as
a
: involving or concerned with the direct observation and treatment of living patients
engaged in full-time clinical practice
clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology
b
: of, relating to, based on, or characterized by observable and diagnosable symptoms of disease
the clinical picture on admission was that of mild depression in an extremely rigid personalityOccupational Therapy & Rehabilitation
three of these six foods were actually the cause of symptoms, and upon their elimination, clinical cure was effectedJournal of Pediatrics
clinically adverb
a clinically significant infection
clinically effective therapies

More from Merriam-Webster on clinical

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