medicine
noun
med·i·cine
ˈme-di-sən 
British usually
ˈmed-sən
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 held in traditional American Indian belief 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
Nearly all companies surveyed will cover these medicines for diabetes in 2026, while just under three-quarters will do so for obesity.
—Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
If needed, take an over-the-counter (OTC) pain medicine like Tylenol (acetaminophen).
—Marisa Garshick, Verywell Health, 4 Sep. 2025
As women’s health has gone underfunded and underdiagnosed for millennia, many preventive medicine advocates and doctors further champion personal testing as a way for women to feel more in control of their health.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 4 Sep. 2025
In an era marked by epidemics of loneliness and political distrust, sports fandom is one simple and universally accessible medicine.
—Todd Rogers, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
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.
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Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
If needed, take an over-the-counter (OTC) pain medicine like Tylenol (acetaminophen).
—Marisa Garshick, Verywell Health, 4 Sep. 2025
As women’s health has gone underfunded and underdiagnosed for millennia, many preventive medicine advocates and doctors further champion personal testing as a way for women to feel more in control of their health.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 4 Sep. 2025
In an era marked by epidemics of loneliness and political distrust, sports fandom is one simple and universally accessible medicine.
—Todd Rogers, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for medicine
Cite this Entry
“Medicine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/medicine. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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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