1
a
: uttered by the mouth or in words : spoken
oral traditions
As part of the oral examination, we had to recite the names of the planets.
b
: using speech or the lips especially in teaching people who are deaf
2
a
: of, given through, or involving the mouth
oral health
an oral vaccine
b
: being on or relating to the same surface as the mouth
3
a
: of, relating to, or characterized by the first stage of psychosexual development in psychoanalytic theory during which libidinal gratification is derived from intake (as of food), by sucking, and later by biting
b
: of, relating to, or characterized by personality traits of passive dependency and aggressiveness
: an oral examination
—usually used in plural
Examples of oral in a Sentence
Adjective
She practices good oral hygiene by brushing her teeth at least twice a day.
As part of her oral examination, she had to recite the names of all the presidents.
Recent Examples on the Web
Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 24 Nov. 2025
Analysts expect Lilly’s new oral GLP-1 to beat its $550 million revenue expectations next year.
—Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 24 Nov. 2025
Julia Gomez, USA Today, 21 Nov. 2025
In recent months, EOIR leadership has criticized judges for not efficiently managing their caseloads, and has encouraged adjudicators to streamline asylum reviews and give oral, as opposed to written, decisions on case dismissals.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oral
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Adjective
Drucker says there are many potential explanations why oral semaglutide didn’t work as hoped.
—Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 24 Nov. 2025
Analysts expect Lilly’s new oral GLP-1 to beat its $550 million revenue expectations next year.
—Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 24 Nov. 2025
Noun
But in the study, researchers defined kissing as a non-hostile act of direct oral-to-oral contact that involves movement of the lips or other parts of the mouth without the transfer of food.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 21 Nov. 2025
In recent months, EOIR leadership has criticized judges for not efficiently managing their caseloads, and has encouraged adjudicators to streamline asylum reviews and give oral, as opposed to written, decisions on case dismissals.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oral
Cite this Entry
“Oral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oral. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
oral
adjective1
a
: of, relating to, or involving the mouth : buccal
the oral mucous membrane
b
: given or taken through or by way of the mouth
an oral vaccine
an oral suspension of a drug
c
: acting on the mouth
oral diseases
2
: emphasizing lipreading and the development of vocal expression in teaching the deaf compare manual sense 2
3
a
: of, relating to, or characterized by the first stage of psychosexual development in psychoanalytic theory during which libidinal gratification is derived from intake (as of food), by sucking, and later by biting
b
: of, relating to, or characterized by personality traits of passive dependence and aggressiveness compare anal sense 2, genital sense 3, phallic sense 2
orally
adverb
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