orthopedic

adjective

or·​tho·​pe·​dic ˌȯr-thə-ˈpē-dik 

variants or less commonly orthopaedic

1

: of, relating to, or employed in orthopedics

an orthopedic surgeon

orthopedic shoes

2

: marked by or affected with a skeletal deformity, disorder, or injury

an orthopedic condition

people with orthopedic problems

orthopedically

ˌȯr-thə-ˈpē-di-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of orthopedic in a Sentence

She was wearing orthopedic shoes.

Recent Examples on the Web

Mazumder worked in internal medicine, and as an independent contractor signed more than 3,000 orders for unnecessary medical equipment like orthopedic braces for people insured by Medicare and TRICARE, a medical program for active and retired military personnel and their families. —Julia Coin june 9, Charlotte Observer, 9 June 2026

Actually, his surgery was 20 weeks earlier by ElAttrache, the Rams’ orthopedic surgeon, who has done some of the biggest procedures on 49ers’ stars over recent years. —Cam Inman, Mercury News, 4 June 2026

Seeing Lawrence effortlessly style the orthopedic-style shoe with a $700 pair of elevated satin pants gave me a whole new perspective. —Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 31 May 2026

Her arrest comes nearly two years after the orthopedic surgeon in charge of Miami Back & Neck Specialists reported to police that Poor, his former payroll manager, had defrauded the business for years, according to an arrest affidavit. —Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 27 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

French orthopédique, from orthopédie orthopedics, from orth- + Greek paid-, pais child — more at few

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for orthopedic

• glycosidic
• orthopaedic
• comedic
• encyclopaedic
• encyclopedic

Kids Definition

orthopedic

adjective

or·​tho·​pe·​dic ˌȯr-thə-ˈpēd-ik 

1

: of, relating to, or used in orthopedics

2

: marked by or affected with skeletal deformity, disorder, or injury

Medical Definition

orthopedic

adjective

or·​tho·​pe·​dic

variants or chiefly British orthopaedic

ˌȯr-thə-ˈpēd-ik 

1

: of, relating to, or employed in orthopedics

orthopedic surgery

orthopedic casts

2

: marked by or affected with a deformity, disorder, or injury of the skeleton and associated structures

orthopedically adverb

or chiefly British orthopaedically

-ˈpēd-i-k(ə-)lē