surgical

adjective

sur·​gi·​cal ˈsər-ji-kəl 

1

a

: of or relating to surgeons or surgery

surgical skills

b

: used in or in connection with surgery

surgical gauze

c

: following or resulting from surgery

surgical fevers

2

: characteristic of or resembling surgery or a surgeon especially in control or incisiveness

surgical precision

surgically

ˈsər-ji-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of surgical in a Sentence

The work was done with surgical precision.

Recent Examples on the Web

Guillen’s family waited anxiously as the same surgical team who treated Hawley four years before removed part of Guillen’s skull to release the pressure on her brain. — Blake Ellis, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026

Sophia Bano, the technical lead for the project, said the system can recognize critical anatomy, surgical instruments and interactions between instruments and tissue. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026

While visiting her dermatologist for Botox, Philipps said the doctor noticed that her surgical incision did not look right and urged her to contact her surgeons. — Sameen Chaudhry, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

According to Cox, studies have shown that cutting the vagus nerve, a surgical procedure known as a vagotomy, can reduce the risk of Parkinson's. — Norah O'Donnell, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

surgeon + -ical

First Known Use

1707, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing surgical

• pre-surgical
• surgical mask
• surgical spirit
• surgical strike

Rhymes for surgical

• chirurgical
• liturgical
• nonsurgical
• postsurgical
• dramaturgical
• metallurgical
• microsurgical
• neurosurgical

Kids Definition

surgical

adjective

sur·​gi·​cal ˈsər-ji-kəl 

: of, relating to, or associated with surgeons or surgery

surgical skills

surgical equipment

a surgical fever

surgically

-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

surgical

adjective

sur·​gi·​cal ˈsər-ji-kəl 

1

: of, relating to, or concerned with surgeons or surgery

surgical skill

2

: requiring surgical treatment

a surgical appendix

3

: used in or in connection with surgery

surgical gauze

4

: following or resulting from surgery

surgical fevers