spinal

1 of 2

adjective

spi·​nal ˈspī-nᵊl 

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

spinal

2 of 2

noun

: a spinal anesthetic

Examples of spinal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Blood and spinal fluid samples from living women backed up the autopsy findings. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 18 Aug. 2026

Lindsay, meanwhile, suffered cuts to her wrists and neck, several broken bones and spinal injuries that left her paralyzed from the waist down. — Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026

Noun

In 1990, Gregg, who is from East Texas and went to SMU, contracted pneumococcal bacterial spinal meningitis during the delivery of her third child at the age of 30. — Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Aug. 2026

McCoy lives with severe spinal curvature disorder and a chest protrusion caused by a childhood surgery. — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1944, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing spinal

• spinal canal
• spinal cavity
• spinal column
• spinal cord
• spinal ganglion
• spinal nerve
• spinal tap

Rhymes for spinal

• final
• pinal
• vinyl
• affinal
• anginal
• synclinal
• vaginal
• anticlinal
• entorhinal
• isoclinal
• polyvinyl
• transvaginal

Kids Definition

spinal

adjective

spi·​nal

ˈspīn-ᵊl

1

: of, relating to, or located near the backbone

2

: of, relating to, or affecting the spinal cord

Medical 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

spinally

-ē 

adverb

spinal

2 of 2 noun

: a spinal anesthetic