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

Armato expanded access to care through an integrated network of clinics, surgical and imaging centers and virtual care platforms. — Chase Jordan november 10, Charlotte Observer, 10 Nov. 2026

For patients comparing like with like, the useful exercise is to separate the surgical plan from the hospitality package. — Burak Onal, Miami Herald, 10 Nov. 2026

Kafle Bhatt worked there as a registered nurse in the medical surgical unit, the center previously told CNN. — Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2026

The hospital has performed more than 400 surgical procedures since Hartford HealthCare took is over, many of which would have had to previously be done elsewhere. — Helen I. Bennett, Hartford Courant, 7 Nov. 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