medicine
noun
med·i·cine
ˈme-di-sən 
British usually
ˈmed-sən
1
a
: a substance or preparation used in treating disease
cough medicine
b
: something that affects well-being
he's bad medicine—
Zane Grey
Zane Grey2
a
: the science and art dealing with the maintenance of health and the prevention, alleviation, or cure of disease
She's interested in a career in medicine.
b
: the branch of medicine concerned with the nonsurgical treatment of disease
3
: a substance (such as a drug or potion) used to treat something other than disease
4
: an object held in traditional American Indian belief to give control over natural or magical forces
also
: magical power or a magical rite
medicine
transitive verb
Examples of medicine in a Sentence
He forgot to take his medicine.
Did you look in the medicine cabinet for a pain reliever?
Their research has led to many important advances in modern medicine.
She's interested in a career in medicine.
Recent Examples on the Web
Lawsuits argue that the order discriminates against young transgender people, unlawfully withholds funds appropriated by Congress and violates the right of states to regulate the practice of medicine.
—Francesca Paris, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
These days, she’s come to the realization that her community needs to turn to a different sort of medicine.
—Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN, 20 Feb. 2025
The natural formula uses Chuan-xiong that is known to calm, Safflower that soothes and reduces inflammation and Asarum that is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat aches and pains.
—Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
Delaying cancer research, depriving HIV and AIDS patients of life-saving medicine and divorcing from the World Health Organization in the middle of a bird-flu outbreak all feel like more urgent emergencies.
—Mark Gongloff, The Mercury News, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for medicine
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.
Francesca Paris, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
These days, she’s come to the realization that her community needs to turn to a different sort of medicine.
—Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN, 20 Feb. 2025
The natural formula uses Chuan-xiong that is known to calm, Safflower that soothes and reduces inflammation and Asarum that is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat aches and pains.
—Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
Delaying cancer research, depriving HIV and AIDS patients of life-saving medicine and divorcing from the World Health Organization in the middle of a bird-flu outbreak all feel like more urgent emergencies.
—Mark Gongloff, The Mercury News, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for medicine
Articles Related to medicine
Cite this Entry
“Medicine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/medicine. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
medicine
noun
med·i·cine
ˈmed-ə-sən
1
: a substance or preparation used in treating disease
2
: the science or art that deals with the prevention, cure, or easing of disease
especially
: the practice of the physician as it differs from that of the surgeon
3
: an object, power, or ceremony held to give control over natural or magical forces
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share