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

By the time Colorado changed its laws, Liberato had become a regular user of LSD and psilocybin, and had begun teaching others how to use them for medicinal purposes at a healing center near Colorado Springs. —Frederick Dreier, Outside, 22 Jan. 2026

Old Forester was able to continue operations because the federal government issued it a medicinal whiskey permit. —Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal, 22 Jan. 2026

While dragon’s blood continues to be harvested for commercial and medicinal use, several Dracaena species are now considered vulnerable due to overexploitation and habitat loss. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026

During Prohibition, the distillery was one of just six allowed to operate after the government granted it a license to make medicinal whiskey. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 16 Jan. 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