medical

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adjective med·i·cal \ˈme-di-kəl\

Definition of medical

1 : of, relating to, or concerned with physicians or the practice of medicine the medical profession a medical journal
2 : requiring or devoted to medical treatment a medical problem an important advance in medical science

medically

play \-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

See medical defined for English-language learners

See medical defined for kids

Examples of medical in a Sentence

He has a dangerous medical condition.
The report was published in a leading medical journal.
Her recovery was a medical miracle.
He opened his own medical practice.
an important advance in medical science

Recent Examples of medical from the Web

The report, authored by an Italian cardiologist who interviewed dozens of current and former employees, cited breaches of accepted medical protocols.

— Bloomberg.com, "Vatican Acknowledges Past Problems At 'Pope's Hospital'", 4 July 2017
California’s timely access laws require insurers to provide patients access to a medical appointment within 48 hours for an urgent problem, or within 10 business days for a non-urgent issue.

— jenny gold, Kaiser Health News, "Kaiser Permanente Cited — Again — For Mental Health Access Problems", 30 June 2017
In New Mexico, a private company broke ground in February on the nation's largest medical marijuana plant, which will cover about 100 football fields and offer space for as many as 40 million plants.

— andrew wolfson, The Courier-Journal, "In some states, pot farmers get a free pass. In Kentucky, Cornbread Mafia leader Johnny Boone faces prison", 29 June 2017
The findings could help medical professionals get facial paralysis patients their most successful smiles back.

— kai sinclair, Science | AAAS, "This avatar could help you perfect your smile", 28 June 2017
Last June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Texas’s House Bill 2 (HB2), a 2013 law holding abortion clinics to certain obscure medical standards, was unconstitutional.

— claire landsbaum, The Cut, "Here’s Why Texas Abortion Clinics Are Still Struggling to Reopen", 27 June 2017
Instead, the historic tree was being transplanted from its home at St. Luke’s Medical Center to a nearby park so the medical center can expand, reports Colin Dwyer at NPR.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "Watch a 100-foot Tall Giant Sequoia Get Transplanted in Boise", 27 June 2017
But as Google Ventures partner Ken Norton pointed out in an emotional Twitter thread that went viral Monday, even well-off families like his can face devastating medical tragedies.

— bess levin, The Hive, "A Top V.C. Explains How Trumpcare Would Trade Lives for Tax Cuts", 26 June 2017
These medical procedures have skewed the days of the week, and hours of the day, during which those little bundles of joy arrive.

— mark fischetti, Scientific American, "Monday, 8 A.M.: Time to Have a Baby", 26 June 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of medical

French or Late Latin; French médical, from Late Latin medicalis, from Latin medicus physician, from mederi to remedy, heal; akin to Avestan vī-mad- healer, Greek medesthai to be mindful of — more at mete

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First Known Use: 1646

See Words from the same year

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

MEDICAL Defined for English Language Learners

medical

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adjective

Definition of medical for English Language Learners

: of or relating to the treatment of diseases and injuries : of or relating to medicine

MEDICAL Defined for Kids

medical

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adjective med·i·cal \ˈme-di-kəl\

Definition of medical for Students

: of or relating to the science or practice of medicine medical care

medically

adverb

Medical Dictionary

medical

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adjective med·i·cal \ˈmed-i-kəl\

Medical Definition of medical

1: of, relating to, or concerned with physicians or the practice of medicine often as distinguished from surgery
2: requiring or devoted to medical treatment a medical emergency