medical

[med-i-kuh l] /ˈmɛd ɪ kəl/

adjective

of or pertaining to the science or practice of medicine:

medical history; medical treatment.

curative; medicinal; therapeutic:

medical properties.

pertaining to or requiring treatment by other than surgical means.

pertaining to or giving evidence of the state of one's health:

a medical discharge from the army; a medical examination.

noun

something done or received in regard to the state of one's health, as a medical examination.

Origin

1640-50; < Medieval Latin medicālis, equivalent to Latin medic(us) medical (adj.), physician (noun) (derivative of medērī to heal; see -ic) + -ālis -al¹

Related forms

medically, adverb

antimedical, adjective

antimedically, adverb

nonmedical, adjective

nonmedically, adverb

pseudomedical, adjective

pseudomedically, adverb

quasi-medical, adjective

quasi-medically, adverb

unmedical, adjective

unmedically, adverb

medical dictionary

noun

a specialized dictionary covering terms used in the health professions by doctors, nurses, and others involved in allied health care services. A dictionary with authoritative spellings and definitions is a particularly crucial resource in medicine, where a misspelling or misunderstanding can have unfortunate consequences for people under care. Print dictionaries in this field may be sorted alphabetically or may be categorized according to medical specializations or by the various systems in the body, as the immune system and the respiratory system. The online Medical Dictionary on Dictionary.com allows alphabetical browsing in the combined electronic versions of more than one authoritative medical reference, insuring access to correct spellings, as well as immediate, direct access to a known search term typed into the search box on the site:

A medical dictionary reveals that large numbers of medical terms are formed from the same Latin and Greek parts combined and recombined.

Examples from the web for medical

The term integrative medicine refers to the conjunction of these practices with mainstream medical care.
Federal authorities appear to have done everything possible to undermine state and local regulation of medical marijuana.
His family deserves to be recognized in his honor because of his medical findings.
It was dismissed in the nineteenth century as having no medical benefit.
The current debate over medical marijuana hinges on its use as pain medication.
And the location of the wounds themselves has begun to change as medical knowledge has advanced.
More seriously, the magnetic cloak could have medical applications.
Doctors often defer to patients when it comes to tough medical choices.
From being the orphan of scanning methods, therefore, ultrasonics looks as though it may become a general-purpose medical tool.
medical marijuana could be grown by the patient for little to no cost.

British Dictionary definitions for medical

medical

/ˈmɛdɪkəl/

adjective

of or relating to the science of medicine or to the treatment of patients by drugs, etc, as opposed to surgery

a less common word for medicinal

noun

(informal) a medical examination

Derived Forms

medically, adverb

Word Origin

C17: from Medieval Latin medicālis, from Latin medicus physician, surgeon, from medērī to heal

Word Origin and History for medical

adj.

1640s, from French médical, from Late Latin medicalis "of a physician," from Latin medicus "physician, surgeon, medical man" (n.); "healing, madicinal" (adj.), from mederi "to heal, give medical attention to, cure," originally "know the best course for," from an early specialization of the PIE root *med- "to measure, limit, consider, advise, take appropriate measures" (cf. Greek medomai "be mindful of," medein "to rule;" Avestan vi-mad- "physician;" Latin meditari "think or reflect on, consider;" Irish miduir "judge;" Old English metan "to measure out"); also see meditation. The earlier adjective in English in this sense was medicinal. Related: Medically.

1917, short for medical examination.

medical in Medicine

medical med·i·cal (měd'ĭ-kəl)
adj.

Of, relating to, or characterizing the study or practice of medicine.
Requiring treatment by medicine.

n.
A thorough physical examination.