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

Although some initial research showed that ivermectin could stop cell cultures in a petri dish from getting infected with the coronavirus, the drug is not effective at treating the virus in humans, according to medicinal chemist Derek Lowe. —Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Oct. 2025

The family’s wealth dates back to George Garvin Brown, who launched Brown-Forman in Louisville as a medicinal whiskey company in 1870. —Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 26 Oct. 2025

It was said that vilas especially loved to bathe in the medicinal waters of the high glacial lake Hridsko Jezero (Crag Lake) also called Liqeni i Zanave (Fairy Lake), hidden under steep cliffs at 6,400 feet. —Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025

Mushroom coffee usually contains several medicinal mushrooms, such as chaga, turkey tail, reishi, lion’s mane, and cordyceps. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 19 Oct. 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