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

Chen was surgical in the final two quarters, scoring all 14 of her points as the Valkyries pulled away for a 88-75 win over the Fever. — Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 16 July 2026

Shapiro earned his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine in the Caribbean and completed a fellowship in surgical critical care at University of Cincinnati Medical Center, according to professional biographies. — Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 16 July 2026

The remaining third came from MedTech, home to its medical devices and surgical products businesses. — Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 14 July 2026

Additional construction will add 71 patient rooms and a Surgical Trauma Progressive Care Unit, which will provide care for patients who do not require intensive care, but are not stable enough for a general medical surgical unit. — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 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