pulmonary

adjective

pul·​mo·​nary ˈpu̇l-mə-ˌner-ē  ˈpəl- 

1

a

: of, relating to, affecting, or occurring in the lungs

pulmonary tissue

pulmonary edema

b

: carried on by the lungs

pulmonary respiration

2

: pulmonate

3

: occurring in the pulmonary artery

a pulmonary embolism

Examples of pulmonary in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Johnson also had two strokes, two pulmonary embolisms caused by blood clots in his legs, and pneumonia. —Kerry Breen, CBS News, 31 Jan. 2026

During her first year of college, her mother fell ill with a chronic pulmonary illness and could no longer work, so Corinne took a job in a retail store to support her family. —Edwidge Danticat, New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2026

Arakawa died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, caused by hantavirus, which is a flu-like illness connected to rodent droppings, saliva, and urine. —Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026

The analyst noted that positive data from a phase 2 trial for TPIP, which targets pulmonary arterial hypertension and related conditions, could position it as a best-in-class therapy and add meaningful long-term upside if later-stage trials are successful. —Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 23 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin pulmonarius, from pulmon-, pulmo lung; akin to Greek pleumōn lung, Sanskrit kloman right lung

First Known Use

1704, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing pulmonary

• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• pulmonary artery
• pulmonary circulation
• pulmonary vein

Rhymes for pulmonary

• accessary
• adversary
• ancillary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• beriberi
• breviary
• budgetary
• capillary
• catenary
• cautionary

Kids Definition

pulmonary

adjective

pul·​mo·​nary ˈpu̇l-mə-ˌner-ē  ˈpəl- 

1

: relating to, affecting, or occurring in the lungs

2

: carried on by the lungs

pulmonary respiration

Medical Definition

pulmonary

adjective

pul·​mo·​nary ˈpu̇l-mə-ˌner-ē  ˈpəl- 

: relating to, functioning like, associated with, or carried on by the lungs