epidural

1 of 2

adjective

epi·​du·​ral ˌe-pi-ˈd(y)u̇r-əl 

: situated upon or administered or placed outside the dura mater

epidural anesthesia

an epidural abscess

epidural

2 of 2

noun

: an injection of a local anesthetic into the space outside the dura mater of the spinal cord in the lower back region to produce loss of sensation especially in the abdomen or pelvic region

Examples of epidural in a Sentence

Noun

Many women undergoing childbirth are given epidurals.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Greene has resumed throwing after getting a second opinion on his right groin strain and getting an epidural injection to relieve pain in his lower back. —C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 22 June 2025

Doctors spoke to them in medical jargon – epidural hematoma, left subdural hemorrhage, left temporal bone fracture, left occipital condyle fracture – each term more terrifying than the last. —Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 15 June 2025

Noun

Mothers were reported after they were given medications used routinely for pain or in epidurals, to reduce anxiety or to manage blood pressure during cesarean sections. —Shoshana Walter, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024

An epidural involves the injection of painkilling medication into the epidural space in the spine using a sizable needle. —Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1882, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1970, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for epidural

• postdoctoral
• predoctoral
• deferral
• referral
• neral
• squirrel
• sural

Medical Definition

epidural

1 of 2 adjective

epi·​du·​ral ˌep-i-ˈd(y)u̇r-əl 

: situated upon or administered or placed outside the dura mater

epidural injections

an epidural abscess

epidurally

-ə-lē 

adverb

epidural

2 of 2 noun

: an injection of an anesthetic to produce epidural anesthesia