medicinal

adjective

me·​dic·​i·​nal

mə-ˈdis-nəl,

-ˈdi-sᵊn-əl 

 in Shakespeare & Milton  ˌme-di-ˈsī-nᵊl,

 &  ˈmed-sə-nəl

1

: tending or used to cure disease or relieve pain

a medicinal compound

the plant's medicinal properties

used for medicinal purposes

2

: salutary

medicinal noun

medicinally

mə-ˈdis-nə-lē 

-ˈdi-sᵊn-ə-lē;

adverb

Synonyms

• healing
• restorative
• remedial
• therapeutic
• healthful
• curative

Examples of medicinal in a Sentence

This drug is to be used only for medicinal purposes.

even in Roman times the hot mineral springs of Bath, England, were believed to possess medicinal properties

Recent Examples on the Web

Instead, horehound candy tastes distinctly bittersweet and almost medicinal, due to its herby main ingredient that gets only slightly jazzed up with sugar or molasses. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 11 July 2025

Caligula was also convinced that his own father, Germanicus, died from poisoning, a belief that may have encouraged him to study medicinal plants in order to avoid the same fate. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 July 2025

Four of the 20 experiences–aquatic therapy, quantum healing, and a Balinese medicinal plants workshop among them–are available daily on a rotating basis. —Alexandra Kirkman, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025

Bubbles, anyone? Foods and drinks with wellness benefits might seem like a modern phenomenon, but the urge to create drinks with medicinal properties inspired what might be called a soda revolution in the 1800s. —Valerie M. Fridland, The Conversation, 1 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing medicinal

• medicinal leech

Rhymes for medicinal

• officinal

Kids Definition

medicinal

adjective

me·​dic·​i·​nal mə-ˈdis-nəl 

-ᵊn-əl

: tending or used to cure disease or relieve pain

medicinally

-ē

adverb

Medical Definition

medicinal

1 of 2 adjective

me·​dic·​i·​nal mə-ˈdis-nəl, -ᵊn-əl 

: of, relating to, or being medicine : tending or used to cure disease or relieve pain

medicinally

-ē 

adverb

medicinal

2 of 2 noun

: a medicinal substance : medicine