medicine
noun
med·i·cine
ˈme-di-sən 
British usually
ˈmed-sən
plural medicines
1
a
: a substance or preparation used in treating disease
cough medicine
b
: something that affects well-being
He's bad medicine.—
Zane Grey
Zane Grey2
a
: the science and art dealing with the maintenance of health and the prevention, alleviation, or cure of disease
She's interested in a career in medicine.
b
: the branch of medicine concerned with the nonsurgical treatment of disease
3
: a substance (such as a drug or potion) used to treat something other than disease
4
: an object (such as a stone, animal bone, or plant root) which in some Indigenous American traditions is held to give control over natural or magical forces
also
: magical power or a magical rite
medicine
transitive verb
Examples of medicine in a Sentence
He forgot to take his medicine.
Did you look in the medicine cabinet for a pain reliever?
Their research has led to many important advances in modern medicine.
She's interested in a career in medicine.
Recent Examples on the Web
El Salvador President Nayib Bukele said 300 rescuers and paramedics, along with 50 tons of equipment, medicines and essential supplies, were ready to depart for Caracas.
—
Will Clark,
NBC news,
26 June 2026
That limited graduate nursing students to borrowing $20,500 a year, while students in clinical psychology, optometry and podiatry, as well as medicine, dentistry and law, could borrow $50,000.
—
Lisa Chambers,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
Gallego said the students worked with the mentors from AbbVie, a global pharmaceutical company that makes life-saving medicines, to develop aeronautical engineering skills.
—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2026
Rodríguez said the earthquakes also damaged eight hospitals, some of which had to be evacuated, forcing authorities to transfer patients to other medical centers while emergency crews worked to restore supplies, medicine and hydration services.
—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for medicine
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Will Clark,
NBC news,
26 June 2026
That limited graduate nursing students to borrowing $20,500 a year, while students in clinical psychology, optometry and podiatry, as well as medicine, dentistry and law, could borrow $50,000.
—
Lisa Chambers,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
Gallego said the students worked with the mentors from AbbVie, a global pharmaceutical company that makes life-saving medicines, to develop aeronautical engineering skills.
—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2026
Rodríguez said the earthquakes also damaged eight hospitals, some of which had to be evacuated, forcing authorities to transfer patients to other medical centers while emergency crews worked to restore supplies, medicine and hydration services.
—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for medicine
Cite this Entry
“Medicine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/medicine. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
medicine
noun
med·i·cine
ˈmed-ə-sən
1
: a substance or preparation used in treating disease
2
: the science or art that deals with the prevention, cure, or easing of disease
especially
: the practice of the physician as it differs from that of the surgeon
3
: an object, power, or ceremony held to give control over natural or magical forces
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