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

• cure
• drug
• medicament
• medication
• medicine
• pharmaceutical
• physic
• remedy
• specific

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

Ginseng Tea Ginseng is a medicinal herb that has been used medically for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine. —Roxana Ehsani, Health, 24 Sep. 2024

Bird’s nest soup, created by boiling the nest, is one of the most expensive soups in the world and is considered a delicacy in China, where it has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. —Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Sep. 2024

This wellness resort provides amazingly unique treatments and a tea room with more than 120 teas and blends that each serve a medicinal purpose. —Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2024

This designation has led to millions of arrests, disproportionately affecting Black Americans and hindering research into the medicinal potential of marijuana. —Dario Sabaghi, Forbes, 18 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing medicinal

• medicinal leech

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