1
: of, relating to, or situated near the spinal column
2
a
: of, relating to, or affecting the spinal cord
spinal reflexes
b
: having the spinal cord functionally isolated (as by surgical section) from the brain
experiments on spinal animals
3
: of, relating to, or resembling a spine
: a spinal anesthetic
Examples of spinal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 16 Dec. 2025
The initial results were inconclusive, but further testing over the next week, to rule out the possibility of a brain or spinal tumor, ultimately led to a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
—Andrew Abrahams, PEOPLE, 11 Dec. 2025
Elisha Brown, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025
Several outpatient services, including orthopedic, spinal, and other procedures, now require prior authorization, and those requests will be supported by AI tools operated by private contractors.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spinal
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Adjective
In 2023, the singer suffered a spinal stroke that paralyzed him from the waist down.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 16 Dec. 2025
The initial results were inconclusive, but further testing over the next week, to rule out the possibility of a brain or spinal tumor, ultimately led to a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
—Andrew Abrahams, PEOPLE, 11 Dec. 2025
Noun
After a fall on stage in 1978 at New York's Beacon Theatre, Gaynor suffered a serious spinal injury and spent months in recovery.
—Elisha Brown, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025
Several outpatient services, including orthopedic, spinal, and other procedures, now require prior authorization, and those requests will be supported by AI tools operated by private contractors.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spinal
Cite this Entry
“Spinal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spinal. Accessed 22 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
spinal
1 of 2 adjective
spi·nal
ˈspīn-ᵊl 
1
: of, relating to, or situated near the spinal column
2
a
: of, relating to, or affecting the spinal cord
spinal reflexes
b
: having the spinal cord functionally isolated (as by surgical section) from the brain
experiments on spinal animals
c
: used for spinal anesthesia
a spinal anesthetic
3
: made for or fitted to the spinal column
a spinal brace
spinal
2 of 2 noun
: a spinal anesthetic
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