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

… a medicinal phrase that he would repeat … in all moments of adversity …

—W. B. Yeats

medicinal noun

medicinally

mə-ˈdis-nə-lē 

-ˈdi-sᵊn-ə-lē;

adverb

Synonyms of medicinal

• drug
• medicine
• medication
• remedy
• cure

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

These impositions are gradual and incredibly well-meaning, although even their medicinal intentions come laced with the word of a foreign lord and savior, whose crucifixes and tales of forgiveness are at odds with the local rituals. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026

Mitragynine is a naturally occurring alkaloid that can be isolated from the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa, a medicinal plant also known as kratom, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information’s National Library of Medicine. — Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2026

The killing happened Saturday night near a cultural center that was hosting a medicinal plant festival. — Rocío Muñoz-Ledo, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026

As Krouse emphasizes, honey has a record of medicinal use going back more than 4,000 years. — Lauren Valenti, InStyle, 9 Sep. 2026

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