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

That will certainly continue after LaVine and Sabonis underwent season-ending surgical procedures on Wednesday. —Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 19 Feb. 2026

Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine focused on the medical and surgical care of the eyes, while vitreoretinal surgery includes procedures that treat conditions like retinal detachment. —Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026

Medical care Under Grove’s proposal, parents would have to give consent for their child to receive a surgical procedure, medical or mental health exam and mental health treatment. —Meghan O’Brien, States Newsroom, 18 Feb. 2026

Nothing surgical could prepare her family for what happened to her father on June 18, 2004. —Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 18 Feb. 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