medicinal

adjective

me·​dic·​i·​nal
mə-ˈdis-nəl,
-ˈdi-sᵊn-əl How to pronounce medicinal (audio)
 in Shakespeare & Milton  ˌme-di-ˈsī-nᵊl,
 &  ˈmed-sə-nəl
1
: tending or used to cure disease or relieve pain
a medicinal compound
the plant's medicinal properties
used for medicinal purposes
2
medicinal noun
medicinally
mə-ˈdis-nə-lē How to pronounce medicinal (audio)
-ˈdi-sᵊn-ə-lē;
adverb

Examples of medicinal in a Sentence

This drug is to be used only for medicinal purposes. even in Roman times the hot mineral springs of Bath, England, were believed to possess medicinal properties
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Named after a convent built in 1613 in the village of Mane, in the south of France, the label specializes in natural cosmetics and fragrances based on medicinal herbs. Jennifer Weil, WWD, 7 Jan. 2025 The Calusa could have utilized the properties of the tetrodotoxin in medicinal, ritual, or even military contexts but again evidence for such use has not been identified. David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024 Also, its red bracts, the leaves around the tiny yellow flowers, were the source of a dye, and its milky sap was used for medicinal purposes. Norman Ellstrand and Nathan Ellstrand / Made By History, TIME, 23 Dec. 2024 To wit, cinnamon features in ancient medicinal traditions like Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, and more. Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for medicinal 

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of medicinal was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near medicinal

Cite this Entry

“Medicinal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/medicinal. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

medicinal

adjective
me·​dic·​i·​nal mə-ˈdis-nəl How to pronounce medicinal (audio)
-ᵊn-əl
: tending or used to cure disease or relieve pain
medicinally
adverb

Medical Definition

medicinal

1 of 2 adjective
me·​dic·​i·​nal mə-ˈdis-nəl, -ᵊn-əl How to pronounce medicinal (audio)
: of, relating to, or being medicine : tending or used to cure disease or relieve pain
medicinally adverb

medicinal

2 of 2 noun
: a medicinal substance : medicine

More from Merriam-Webster on medicinal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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